Hermenia Margaret Kruidenier, a nurse in her early years, community builder in her middle years and realtor in her later years, died at 90 years of age on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Clark-Lindsey Village in Urbana, Illinois. Friends are invited to celebrate her life at a reception with her sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren on Sunday, September 9 between 1 and 3 p.m. at the Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana.

Mrs. Kruidenier was a registered nurse, organizing and working in the second blood bank in the USA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing (now a part of the University of Pennsylvania), she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1940 where she met Francis J. Kruidenier, whom she married in 1943. Upon completion of his Ph.D., they moved to Urbana, Illinois in 1948 where they resided for the rest of their lives. They remained married until his death on April 16, 1988.

Upon her arrival in Urbana, Hermie worked alongside many volunteers to better the community and county. She was a founding member and president of the League of Women Voters and the Champaign County Design and Conservation Foundation while also serving on the boards of the Arrowhead Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Guild, Preservation and Conservation Association, Orpheum Children's Science Museum, and the YM and YWCAs. She served on the Urbana Public Building Commission, Downtown Development and Redevelopment Commission, Intergovernmental Cooperation Commission, and many School District 116 committees.

Hermie began her real estate career in her early 50s and retired at 81 years of age. During her work as a realtor, she served on the MLS Board of Directors along with many MLS committees. She was named Realtor of the Year at the local and state levels in 1983 and Woman's Council "Woman of the Year" in 1979. Throughout her life, Hermie stressed that quality of life in the community was not the frosting on the cake, but the cake itself - whether through sound community planning and design, wise stewardship of natural resources, assistance to youth, or excellence in education and the arts.

She was born Hermenia M. Kroupa on December 14, 1916, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Kruidenier is preceded in death by her husband, Francis, parents, George and Margaret Kroupa, brother George, and sister Mary. She is survived by six sons and daughters-in-law: Bastian and Helene, John and Karin, Jim and Susan, Dan and Becky, Bill and Jamie, and Richard and Rachel. Hermie is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Julie, Thomas, Marisa, Anna, Elise, Stuart, Jennifer, Jeremy, Ryan, Lucas, James Bastian, and Christopher.

Memorial gifts may be made to the CCDC Foundation (P.O. Box 752, Urbana, Il 61803) or the University of Illinois Arboretum (U of I Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, Illinois 61801).