Peter Paul Eged was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania to the late Anna (Hollis) and Michael Eged, on June 29, 1922. His parents named their nine children for the Saints day on which they were born. Pete was born on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
Married to the late Belle Mae (nee Enyart), the love of his life, for 63 years. Pete was the loving father of the late Carolyn Ann (Daniel) Schuman; Peter Paul, Jr. (Katherine Lombardi) Eget, and Susan Marie Eget. Grandfather of Beth Ann Schuman. He is survived by his sister Helen Eged and sister-in-law, Gerry (the late Michael) Eged. Preceded in death by siblings: Mary (Steve “Ben”) Bendenritter; John (Cecille) Eget; Betty (Lou) Szabo; Josie (Ernie) Zavodny; George and Anna Eged. Much loved uncle of Stephanie and Donna Bendenritter and Becky Eget, who remembered him at every occasion. Survived by many nieces and nephews. Much loved papa of grand”dog”ters, Ci Hye, Little Rose and Sweet Pea.
In the mid-to-late 1930s, Pete’s family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After Pearl Harbor, Pete enlisted in the US Navy and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Center. While in the Navy, he and his brother, John, had their names erroneously recorded as “Eget” instead of “Eged”.
While at Great Lakes, Pete met Belle, a native Chicagoan, through a friend. He always said that the first time he saw her; he thought “She’s mine”. Pete was later stationed at Naval Base, Cape May (New Jersey). He served aboard the USS Allegheny – AT-19, a WWI ship. In WWII, the ship served as a tug and firefighter for damaged US and allied ships and guarded convoys gathering off the Atlantic seaboard. Allegheny had been retrofitted with depth-charges to serve as a sub-chaser. Belle joined Pete in Cape May, where they were wed on June 24, 1944 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. When WWII ended, the couple settled in Chicago. Pete was proud of his service in WWII and had many memories he shared with family and friends.
Pete was a driver for United Parcel for 25 years. He then worked as a shipping clerk for Photopress Printing in Bellwood. After retirement in 1988, Pete and Belle moved to Ocala, Florida for 9 years. When they returned to Illinois they moved to the Willows of Elmhurst. Pete has many friends at the Willows, including dear friends Chris Sumner, Ron Selk, Jerry Amen and Dwight Willaford.
Pete and Belle took many driving vacations with their children and in their “empty nest” years. They saw much of the United States, including Pete’s favorite, South Dakota. For their 25th wedding anniversary they travelled to Hawaii. They took cruises to the Caribbean and western Mexico. Tours to England/France/Switzerland and to Ireland were highlights.
Pete was a devout Roman Catholic. Prior to moving to Florida he joined the Knights of Columbus, St. Anthony Padua Council. In later years, Pete and Belle said a rosary every day. After Belle’s death, Pete prayed two rosaries each day and watched Daily Mass on TV.
Pete enjoyed watching cowboy movies and reruns of TV shows, such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza and Wagon Train. He loved talking to people and was the kind of person who never met a stranger, only new friends. He worked hard all his life, taking care of his family and maintaining his house. He helped out his neighbors, whether it was using his snow blower, getting a car started, or running power cords across the lawn.
On January 3, 2008, Belle passed quietly in her sleep at Elmhurst Extended Care Center. Pete continued to live at the Willows until May of 2019, when he moved to Elmhurst Extended Care. He said he would be safer there because he fell so often. He slipped away peacefully on November 30, 2020.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at Visitation Catholic Church in Elmhurst. Burial will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, where he will lie next to his beloved Belle. Strong in their faith as Roman Catholics, they are now united in eternal light.
