Lucille Mayer Sonduck, Sue as she was known to her family and friends, died peacefully on June 12, 2017 at the age of 95, in Eugene, Oregon. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to Lucien & Frieda (Froehlich) Mayer on March 24, 1922. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
On January 30, 1944 she married Harold R. Sonduck of Wausau, Wisconsin. They remained devoted to each other for 68 years until Harold’s death in 2012. At the end of WWII, when Harold was discharged from the Army they were one of the first families to move into Park Forest, Illinois, a new suburb of Chicago “planned” for returning veterans.
There they helped found Congregation Beth Shalom and she became involved with the Temple Sisterhood. Through her deep connection with National Council of Jewish Women, she helped establish one of the first “well baby” programs and a juvenile justice programs in the Cook County courts which was a precursor of today’s child advocacy programs. She volunteered on behalf of institutionalized mentally ill for over twenty years. She was also active in B’nai B’rith Women, Hadassah and many other Jewish and civic organizations. She was known for her dedication, sense of humor and open-hearted caring for others.
After retiring, they moved to Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), California, where they lived until moving to Eugene, Oregon in 2006.
Lucille is survived by her daughter, Janet Sonduck (Michael Simon) of Eugene; son, Michael (David Zeligson) of San Diego; son, Allan of Eugene, who died on June 15,2017, the same day she was buried; four grandchildren, one great grandchild; her sister Margery Waldner of Chicago, Illinois; sister-in-law, Ryle Sonduck, of San Diego and by many nieces, nephews and extended family members.
