Heidi Keye Biederman, 83, of St. Charles, Illinois, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on March 29, 1940, in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan, to the late Vernon and Elizabeth Keye. A proud Detroiter, Heidi attended Ferndale High School in the early 1950s - along with the Motown group, the Spinners. She was the third generation of her family to graduate from Beloit College, and it is also where she met her husband, William Biederman (84). Heidi and William eventually moved to the Chicagoland area and raised their two children, William (55) and Robert (51) in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Heidi was a fierce advocate for justice and equality, especially for women and children. She worked tirelessly to ensure that all students had access to a quality education and was instrumental in passing legislation that improved the lives of countless children. She served as the first Executive Director of the Large Unit District Association (LUDA), where she represented the 56 largest school districts in Illinois. She also worked for the Illinois Association of School Boards. Heidi was an elected Board Member and President of School District 41 from 1976-81. She began her career as a first grade teacher and kept in touch with many of her students throughout her life.
Heidi embraced every moment of retirement where she traveled, followed her artistic passions and worshiped her 4 grandchildren Jake (21), Elizabeth (17), Kate (16) and Abby (13). She was so grateful to finally have daughters through marriage in Kim (51), Amber (50), plus many other “daughters by choice.” She enthusiastically appreciated beauty both in the arts and in nature - especially at her family home in Omena, MI. Heidi showered her family and friends with unconditional love and overwhelming positivity, and touched the lives of everyone she met.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the First Congregational Church, 535 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL. In Heidi’s honor, wearing pastel colors is welcomed! In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to the Omena Village Preservation Association, https://omenapreservation.org/contribute/.
Some of you know Heidi’s son Rob, who now works for Google. He and the rest of his family have my greatest sympathies. Heidi was a gem.
* As I mentioned earlier, I tested positive for covid last week while in New York. I’ve been pretty tired since then (a massively delayed flight home didn’t help), but I deliberately slept late this morning and I’m feeling a bit better this afternoon. Just gonna take it easy this weekend, read and listen to music…
Once in a while, you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right
