Susan Therese (Eller) Dunn

Susan Therese Eller Dunn age 87 of Porter, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, February 18th. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA on October 1929 to Arthur and Ruth (Roach) Eller. Shortly after birth she moved to Evansville, IN and later moved with her family to Oak Park, IL. She attended Oak Park-River Forest High School and Rosary College. She worked in Chicago as an advertising sales representative for the Chicago Tribune and also as a window dresser for Marshall Field’s department store. Later she completed a bachelor of fine arts degree at Valparaiso University and a Master’s of Science Degree in Education from Purdue University. She worked as an art teacher at many Diocese of Gary schools including St. Patrick, St. Paul, Nativity of Our Savior and at Chesterton Montessori School.

Susan was an accomplished painter, sculpture, calligrapher and portrait artist. One of her finest works was a life-size wire sculpture of a fiddler which was purchased by Valparaiso University. In addition to paintings on canvas, she particularly liked painting on driftwood that she collected during morning walks on the beach. She created special commissioned artwork for private buyers. She was particularly involved in the Dunes area art scene and was very involved for many years in the annual Chesterton Art Fair. Sue enjoyed playing bridge and loved playing the piano with her signature piece being the “Bumble Boogie” by Jack Fina. During her married life she was a resident of Ogden Dunes and Porter, IN and Daytona Beach, FL. She was an active parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Chesterton and Our Lady of Lourdes in Daytona Beach, FL. She was particularly devoted to St. Therese (The Little Flower) and the Divine Mercy. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Kappa Sorority in addition to other community organizations in Indiana and Florida.
Her greatest joy in life was raising and supporting her two children, her family and her faith. She passed on her love of art, music and her faith to her children. She served as a Cub Scout den mother and leader of a Girl Scout troop. She introduced her children to cross country skiing out at the Dunes State Park and loved hiking, particularly near water. In her final years, her favorite activity was to have her daughter drive her along the Indiana Dunes lakefront so she could look across the lake to see the Chicago skyline. She came into the world at the start of the Great Depression, lived to see the Chicago Cubs win a World Series and passed on her enthusiasm for Chicago sports to her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Anne (Bob) Turgi, Jeanne (Don) Sebesta and her grandson Raymond Raffin. She is survived by her daughter Patricia (Albert) Raffin of Porter, IN and her son, Raymond (Carolyn) Dunn, of Greenwich, CT; grandchildren, Katherine (Michael), David, Christopher, Madeleine, Mimi, Alex and Christopher; great grand child Alexandra, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 638 N. Calumet Rd. Chesterton, IN, 46304, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2017, with Reverend James Meade officiating. Burial will be at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery immediately following the Mass. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St. Chesterton, Indiana 46304. Memorial donations may be given to the St. Patrick School Art Department at 638 N. Calumet Rd. Chesterton, IN 46304. Memories may be shared at: www.whitelovefuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Susan Therese (Eller) Dunn, please visit our floral store.