Harriet Church
Lebanon | Save
Harriet Lois Church (nee Feddersen), 73, of Lebanon, IL, born on November 17, 1952, in St. Louis, MO, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at her home.
Harriet graduated from the St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing and filled her nursing career at Faith-West Hospital (now BJC West) in St. Louis. She met her husband, Harrison, after responding to a caller on KMOX’s Dateline program with radio host Jim White. They were married October 27, 1988, in Lebanon and enjoyed 31 years of marriage before Harrison passed in 2019. They ran the town newspaper, The Lebanon Advertiser, for many years until they retired in 2014.
Harriet was known for her baking - receiving a delicious cake or homemade rolls from Harriet was always a valued treat. Many fundraisers for the Mermaid House, Looking Glass Playhouse and the Lebanon Historical Society have benefited from Harriet’s baking, as well as her beloved friends! Harriet lived a wonderful life with many amazing stories to share. It was a joy to hear her tell them…. now wishing she would have written a book!
Harriet was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Martin Frederic and Dorris Belle Feddersen (nee Chrismer); her beloved husband, Harrison Church; and four siblings, Robert Fedderson, Dale Feddersen (wife, Ruth), Don Feddersen (wife, Carol), and Kathy Grubbs (husband, Charlie “Hank”).
She is survived by her informally adopted sister, Donna Sledge Cohen (husband, Clarence) of Charleston, SC; and her informally adopted granddaughter, Jasmine Cohen; her church family at Messiah Lutheran Church; and loving friends.
Memorials may be made in Harriet’s honor to Messiah Lutheran Church, or the Lebanon Historical Society; 309 W. St. Louis St., Lebanon, IL 62254. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.schildknechtfh.com.
A visitation will take place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 11: 00 a.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church; 801 N. Madison St., Lebanon, IL 62254.
Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at Messiah Lutheran Church; 801 N. Madison St., Lebanon, IL 62254, with burial immediately following at College Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Schildknecht Funeral Home.
Schildknecht Funeral Home
