Lenore Bilodeau

Lenore May (Skirvin) Bilodeau quietly left this life on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, with loved ones standing by. She was the sixth of eight children born to William Herbert Skirvin and Charity Eunice (Cramer) Skirvin on Aug. 27, 1915, in Bloomington, IN. She was an excellent student despite hard times. In high school, she placed high in statewide typing and shorthand competitions. Lenore would have gone to college, but she graduated from old Bloomington High School in 1933 during the worst of the Depression. Her deep sense of loyalty and love for her family sent her straight into the workforce to help support them. Before WWII she worked in an office at the IU School of Education. When the war came, she moved to Indianapolis to do office work at Fort Benjamin Harrison, as well as in Cleveland, OH. Like many young women, she volunteered at the USO. She spent time working in Chicago and Kansas City, as well. Soon after the war ended, Lenore was briefly married to Harry Payne Bilodeau. They had a son, Douglas James Bilodeau, born in 1947 in Kansas City, MO. He became the pride of her life. She moved with her infant son back home to Bloomington, where she raised him on her own among her own loving Skirvin family. While stretching every dollar she earned, Lenore still managed to put together a down payment so her beloved parents could buy a home on East Tenth Street. It's still in the family. Lenore worked in the office at Ford Motor Company and then became a diligent bookkeeper at Keough Accounting. Over the years she kept the books and did the taxes for many local businesses, including Ladyman's and Bender's restaurants downtown, and later at Leung Chung and Grasshopper Restaurants. For some time she was office manager for Wegmiller-Bender Lumber Co. This amazing woman continued part-time bookkeeping for businesses and family until she was eighty-one. When her widowed mother was no longer able to live alone, she was invited to move in with Lenore and son, Doug. Grandma Skirvin was able to spend her last sixteen years happily writing her religious tracts and supportive letters to friends all over the world from her generous daughter's home. Throughout her long life, Lenore remained both frugal and generous. She gave care and kindness and helped out more family members than can be counted. When her beloved son, Douglas, married Allene Newberg in 1975, she welcomed her two new young grandsons as if they were her own. She chose to be called "Norna," combining Nana and Lenore. It was her grandma name ever after. Norna took care of all five of her grandkids every Sunday afternoon while they were growing up to give their weary parents a break. Her grandkids still cherish the memories of their times with Norna, eating the forbidden-at-home sweet cereals, playing board games and cards or going on little shopping trips to Big Lots. When Norna had the grandkids, and sometimes their friends, she was fully theirs. And always fair. Amy once called her the "quintessential grandmother." Still adored. Lenore is survived by her only child, Douglas Bilodeau and wife, Allene Newberg Bilodeau of Bloomington; 4 grandkids, David Newberg (wife Mariko Fukuda) of Brentwood, CA, Aaron Bilodeau of Seattle, WA; Amy Bilodeau (husband Ahren Owen) and their kids Zoe Layton and Henry Owen, all of Bloomington; and Joshua Bilodeau of Bloomington. One younger brother, Jack Skirvin, survives. Her beloved nieces and nephews, their spouses and children all will miss her sweet tenacious strength. All who loved her have been influenced and uplifted by her presence. Proceeding her in death were her brothers, Don, Wayne, Herbert and Howard Skirvin; her sisters, Mildred and Marguerite; also her grandson, James Newberg in 2000. The family is grateful to all the staff in Horizons Unit at Golden Living who made her feel at home the last 6 1/2 years. Great hugs and thanks to Josh Dixon for being Lenore's special comfort and for bringing the light of music from your piano playing into her days there. Thank you to the staff in Reminiscence Unit for her final weeks of help and care. Hospice friends have our gratitude for the visits and final days of support. Visitation is Saturday, Nov. 24, from 12 to 2 p.m., immediately followed by the funeral at Allen Funeral Home, 4155 South Old Highway 37 at 2 p.m. Burial will be at Mt Gilead Cemetery. A gathering will take place at Golden Corral in a reserved room right after.

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Lenore Bilodeau

August 27, 1915 - November 21, 2012