On Tuesday March 18, 2025 Lourdine Louise Eyrich went to be with the Lord. She was surrounded by her daughter, husband, grand-daughter, a sister, and many other loved ones.
Born February 11, 1957 to Marion Martin and Dolores Louise (O’Connor) Florek in Chicago, her family moved to the Watseka area while she was in 8th grade. Lourdine was a reporter by trade and temperament. Her mother often told her she was nosy, but Lourdine preferred to think of herself as “inquisitive.” She enjoyed ferreting out information and writing about the special things done by everyday people. She began her reporting career in Marble Hill, Mo. She then worked at the Watseka Times Republic before moving to Colorado, where she worked as a columnist. Her family moved to Hoopeston in 1986 after she was named managing editor of The Chronicle. In 1993, she started Just the Facts. Along the way, her investigative skills helped bring down two police officials and her writing was honored with several awards, including two consecutive years of Illinois Press Association awards. She taught herself desktop publishing, she always preferred MS Publisher and refused to upgrade to new versions insisting they changed too many things. In recent years she enjoyed using Photoshop, also the older version, to create ads for her customers, she spent many an hour getting everything to fit and be readable. She was very proud and happy to be a grandma, spending time with Anna, teaching her how to cook, bake, and can food. At the beginning of 2024 she slowed down some, changing the paper from 5 days a week to 3 so she could spend more time on some of her hobbies, including gardening, crocheting, and internet word games with friends.
Lourdine is survived by her husband of 18 years James Franklin Eyrich, her daughter Jennifer (David) Schaafsma, son Michael Malone (his children Kevin, Brooke, Brandon), Grand-daughter Anna Schenk, Sisters: Colette (Steve) Elliot, Charlene (the late Steve) King, Barb Michels, and Mary Lou (Bob) Christie, and many nieces, nephews and cousins and the dog Maple who will greatly miss all the scratches that mom administered while they sat together. She was preceded in death by her parents Marion and Dolores Florek of rural Milford, and beloved sister, Anita Crouch.
A visitation will be held 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Anderson Funeral Home 427 E. Main St. Hoopeston, IL. A visitation will also be held 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 28, 2025 at First Baptist Church 323 E. Seminary Ave. Hoopeston, IL. The funeral service will follow the visitation and begin at 11:00 A.M. on Friday at the church with Pastor Adam Taubert officiating. Burial will follow the service at Floral Hill Cemetery in Hoopeston.
Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church of Hoopeston, 323 E Seminary, Hoopeston, IL 60942.
Please visit www.anderson-funeral-home.com to view Lourdine’s eternal tribute page and to send condolences to the family.
Anderson Funeral Home in Hoopeston, IL are handling the arrangements.
