Obituary of Ramona E. Trautlein

Ramona Trautlein passed at the age of 87 on October 7, 2024. 

She was born and raised in New York City, the daughter of Eva and Frank Schutz. She graduated from high school at 17, began her career as a secretary in the Union Carbide Corporation’s Patent Department, and became the sole breadwinner for herself and her parents. She took the train every day from their home in Bellmore, Long Island, to the Manhattan skyscraper, wearing her swing-skirted dresses, heels, hose and white gloves, as did all nice young ladies of that era.   

She met her husband, Gene, a patent attorney, at work; they married and settled in Wantagh, Long Island. There they had a daughter, Barbara, and a son, Stephen. When the kids were born, she became a full-time homemaker and returned to work as an administrative assistant for Union Carbide after her son went to college. After her father died, her mother lived with her and Gene for 25 years until she passed at the ripe old age of 92. Ramona was ever the devoted caregiver.

Ramona was proud of her Hungarian heritage and Transylvanian roots, relishing all things macabre, from horror movies to true crime stories to murder mysteries. Every 5 p.m. until Gene passed at 93, they could be found enjoying cocktail hour, Pinot Grigio on ice for her and a Manhattan for him. She and Gene were avid world travelers and doting grandparents.

Besides her children she is survived by her grandchildren, Jasmine, Eric, Veronica, and Alex. She also leaves behind her son-in-law, Michael Wendt, and daughter-in-law, Minae Kawamura.

Ramona’s funeral service will be held at St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church in Indian Creek, Illinois, on October 28 at 10 a.m. Donations in her memory can be made to the GoFundMe account of Rob Sheaffer (our family friend and the stepdad of Veronica’s boyfriend, Jackson) at https://bit.ly/3Yjb7bP.

Funeral arrangements for McMurrough Funeral Chapel (847) 362-2626. Please sign her guestbook at www.libertyvillefuneralhome.com