Harriet Van Kanegan, 93, of Crystal Lake, Il, passed away peacefully at her home at the Fountains of Crystal Lake on October 24, 2023.

Harriet was born at home on April 8, 1930, to Gertrude and Alfred Brenner. She married the late Jack Van Kanegan, a violinist, at St. Rita of Cascia in Chicago on May 27, 1950.

Harriet worked as a key punch operator for the Illinois Central Railroad in Chicago until 1952. They moved to Wonder Lake, Il, where they raised 8 children. Harriet was active in Christ the King Church and the Harrison school PTA. She was a Cub Scout, Brownie, Girl Scout, and 4H leader. The large family home and yard was a destination for many children in Wonder Lake. Trees to climb, the back yard baseball field, basketball net, a swimming pool, and the corn field to explore at the end of the road.

Harriet worked at the Wonder Lake post office for 20 years and in addition to raising the flag and sorting the mail, learned all the small-town news. In 1994, Harriet moved to McHenry with her husband. In 2010, she was elected Catholic Woman of the Year at Holy Apostle Catholic Church where she volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels and working with the Society of St. Vincent De Paul. She was also a senior aid in the Edgebrook school kindergarten classes,

Harriet is survived by 7 children, Jeffery Van Kanegan (Mary), Nancy Van Kanegan, Thomas Van Kanegan, Martin Van Kanegan (Janice), Susan Reitz (Lon) Jaclyn Brunk (Robert), Karen Cardinal (David), Steven's wife Janet, 15 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jack (1996), her sister Viola, (2010), her brother Allan ( 2020), her daughter in law Sharon ( 2023), and her son Steven (2023).

The family wishes to thank the staff at the Fountains of Crystal Lake, Journey Care Hospice, and the family and friends who visited during her final days.

A celebration of Harriet's life will occur in Spring 2024. As a tribute to her life the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association