LENORE S. DUDGEON Jan. 5, 1932 – April 3, 2016
Lenore S. Dudgeon died peacefully in her sleep on April 3, 2016 from complications secondary to cancer.
Lenore was born January 5, 1932 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Maurice and Eleanor Schaller. After completing nursing school in Pennsylvania she was chosen to attend advanced training in anesthesia where she graduated as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
In 1957 she moved to Las Vegas, NV to pursue her career in anesthesia. While lounging at the pool of her apartment complex, she met Willard Dudgeon and the two began a whirlwind romance, eloping in September of 1960 after only six weeks of dating and then celebrating a traditional Catholic wedding with friends and family a few weeks later.
The couple moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1961 where she was employed by the Los Alamos Medical Center. She and Willard raised their 2 daughters there while Lenore taught religious education, was a lay distributor and lector at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, coached in the Lassie League, served as a board member at Barranca Mesa Pool and Barranca Mesa Elementary School PTO, and competed as a member of a lady’s bowling league.
She enjoyed playing bridge and hosted many parties and dinners with family, neighbors, coworkers and friends. She often opened her home to doctors and nurses who lived out of town and offered them a place to stay when they were on call. Lenore was active in the National Association of Nurse Anesthetists as well as the New Mexico State Association of Nurse Anesthetists, where she served as President and held other board positions numerous times. She also spent time in Santa Fe and Washington, DC lobbying for health care workers.
When Willard retired form the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the couple moved to Espanola, NM, where Lenore continued her career at Espanola Hospital before retiring and moving to Las Cruces, NM. In Las Cruces, she volunteered for many years as an Ombudsman serving the residents and families of a local nursing home. Lenore moved to Loveland, Co. to be near her daughters in 2013 and celebrated 54 years of marriage to Willard before his passing in 2015. She enjoyed playing cards with her family and friends as well daily walks with her dog.
Lenore was an active “Nana” in the lives of her grandchildren: traveling to visit and care for them, watching them compete in various athletic events, and creating many special holiday memories. Lenore will be remembered by many as a wonderful hostess, cook, mother, friend, and caring nurse anesthetist.
Lenore is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Robert M. Schaller and her beloved husband Willard B. Dudgeon. Lenore is survived by her daughters Barbara Dudgeon Roberts (husband Mathew) of Loveland, CO.; Laura Dudgeon Ornelas (husband Andrew) of Florence, CO; her grandchildren Zachary Ornelas of Ann Arbor, MI; Olivia Ornelas of Florence, CO; her beloved dog and constant companion, Cheyenne; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
A private memorial to celebrate her life with her Loveland friends will be held at her Loveland home.
A funeral mass will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos, NM on Friday June 17 at 9:00 am, burial to follow at Guaje Pines Cemetery of both Lenore S and Willard B Dudgeon, and reception at the parish hall at 11:30 am.
In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that Memorial donations be made in Lenore’s name to:
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Foundation
Lenore Dudgeon Memorial Fund
222 S. Prospect Ave.
Park Ridge, IL 60068
