Former NEDSRA director Jeena Greenwalt remembered for her spirit, dedication

Jeena Greenwalt, the former executive director of the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association, is being remembered for her spirit and dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Greenwalt, 49, died at the end of May in her hometown of Carlinville after a lengthy battle with kidney cancer. Friends and family will celebrate her life at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at the Carlinville Elks Lodge, 201 West Main St., Carlinville.

Greenwalt, who worked at NEDSRA in Addison for nearly 20 years, championed many new programs and was well-respected and loved by the participants and their families.

"Jeena's spirit will be truly missed by our participants and by staff. Her inspiration and guiding force at NEDSRA will continue, as we honor her with our commitment to excellent recreational programs that improve the lives of individuals with disabilities," said Rick Poole, NEDSRA's new executive director.

Greenwalt graduated from Carlinville High School in 1983 and from Illinois State University in 1988 and began her career at NEDSRA in 1991. She left for a short period to work in North Carolina before returning in 1997.

Fishing and camping were Greenwalt's favorite pastimes, but spending time with her nieces and nephews was her true passion. She is survived by her father, Richard Greenwalt; brother Jay Greenwalt; sisters, Jana Schweizer and Jodi Valdivieso; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jeena Greenwalt Scholarship Fund at NEDSRA, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, or St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Carlinville.