Lillian R. Glendening

Lillian R. Glendening, 101, of Berne, Indiana, passed away Thursday evening, January 15, 2026, at Swiss Village in Berne.

She was born in 1924 to the late Waldemar and Alide (Erlenheim) Reedel in Tallinn, Estonia. A graduate of the English School in Tallinn, she also attended the Tallinn Conservatory of Music. Fluent in three languages, she worked for the Armed Forces in Augsburg, Germany, where she met her future husband, Captain James Keith Glendening, formerly of Hartford Township. Her admission to the United States was sponsored by Zion Lutheran Church in Decatur, where she and James were married in 1950.

During her husband’s tour of duty in the Korean War, Lillian lived in Linn Grove. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Army, Lillian made her home in Berne. She was a member of the Cross United Church of Christ. After the death of her husband, she resided at Swiss Village Retirement Community.

Lillian was an avid reader and an accomplished seamstress. She and her husband loved to travel, and they enjoyed many trips throughout the United States and Europe. She volunteered for different organizations, including military hospitals with the Red Cross. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family and grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Jessica Glendening of Indianapolis, Indiana; son, Thomas (Elaine) Glendening of Fenton, Missouri; son, Gregory (Warren Bascom) Glendening of Bloomington, Indiana; and three grandchildren, David Glendening, Henry (Kasey) Glendening, and John Glendening.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Swiss Village Auditorium in Berne, Indiana, with Pastor Mike Wertenberger officiating. Inurnment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery in Geneva, Indiana.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service on Friday, at Swiss Village.

The family would like to thank Swiss Village and Stillwater Hospice for their kindness and care of their mother.

Preferred memorials can be given to the Swiss Village Samaritan Fund.

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel of Berne, Indiana