Cerena E. DeRoo, age 95, a resident of West Chicago, IL, died Thursday, May 11, 2017, at home. She was born March 22, 1922 in Wheaton, IL to Silas and Lydia (Gauger) Hendrixon.

Cerena and her late husband Floyd were married in Oklahoma City, OK in 1943, before he was to depart to England for World War II.  Upon returning, they settled down in rural Wheaton, IL to start a family, where they had two boys.

Cerena was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church. She also regularly donated blood to Heartland Blood Center.  Over the course of many years, she donated 12 gallons of her blood to help those in need.

She worked at Hitchcock/Capital Cities ABC, which was eventually bought by The Disney Company.  Upon her retirement, she then worked full time on her beloved gardens. She was blessed with such a green thumb, that her family used to say that, "she could plant a broomstick, and make it grow."  She had a beautiful vegetable garden, where many neighbors would stop and compliment her on her flawless, weed-free garden.  She was so passionate about her vegetable and flower gardens, that she would spend hours picking the weeds from them.

She is survived by her son, Larry DeRoo of West Chicago, IL; her granddaughter, Kelly DeRoo of Elgin, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd; her son, Lester DeRoo; two brothers, Wallace and Clarence Hendrixon; and her sister, Luella Peterman.

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 15, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 16, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.

Memorial gifts may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church , 410 N. Cross St., Wheaton, IL 60187; or to Kish Hospice , 2727 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, IL 60115.