Vera Zwiers

Passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2026, peacefully at her home at Rock Run Memory Care.

She was born to Reverend Leon and Dorothy Slover on July 12, 1938 in Patton, Missouri. After graduating from Hermann High School, she was married to Dayton (Russ) Slinkard and began her life as a minister's wife.

They had 3 children Bryan, Lisa and Regina, while ministering to communities in central Illinois. After moving to Joliet, Vera got a job at Rendels GMC. She turned her job into a career and spent 35 years there, where she finished her career as the office manager. She always made sure to get us to our lessons, made sure we went on vacations, stayed home with us when sick, came to all of our functions and was always willing to be our favorite chaperone on school trips. She was always a mom first! She was a person who put others before herself. It was just natural for her.

Vera was one of the kindest and most generous people you could ever have the pleasure to meet. We always took names of people in need at Christmas and mom made sure that everyone she could touch had a Christmas celebration. One year, she found out that the Mission had 60 names left untaken. She took all 60 names and we spent a very busy day shopping! Christmas was her favorite holiday of all, although she decorated for every occasion , and enjoyed the special times with family that holidays bring. Vera truly felt that giving is the best thing a person can do, because it brings joy and happiness to both you and those you help.

Vera was an accomplished pianist, playing for church, family singalongs, as well as being Troy Jr. High's go to, for solo contest accompanist. She loved playing and bringing the joy of music to many. She organized a Christmas sing along at Rock Run Assisted Living to bring joy to both the residents and the staff. She was an avid gardener, making sure to keep it organic and working to help monarchs and birds with feeders and native plants. She loved traveling, hiking, long walks and skipping stones. She loved a good game night with family, but she and Don especially loved playing cards for many hours, trying to reel in any unsuspecting victim for a guaranteed loss. She was a great cook, although she always swore she didn't like doing it. Based on the love and time she took to make everything from scratch, this was always hard to believe. Mom helped everyone and spent many years as a Stephens Minister, caring for those in need. She was an avid sports fan who loved the Bulls, the Bears and kept true to her roots as a St. Louis Cardinal fan. She never missed a game that her teams were playing in. She was proud to be a fan! She helped to care for the animals we found and brought home, throughout life. She was the #1 fan and supporter of her children and grandchildren Matt, Dan, Morgan and Maddy. She would try her hand at basketball or the trampoline, go apple picking, or spend the day in a table tent that she made with her grandkids. She and her husband Don were real live Christmas trees for Regina's girl scout troop to decorate at the troop Christmas party. Vera had a zest for life. Her spirit was infectious!! She was very funny and quick-witted! She could light up a room with her smile, laugh or a funny unexpected comment. She got excited over the little things from a new way to dye Easter eggs, seeing a monarch butterfly on her plant, to a new craft to try with her grandkids. She found really cool, off the beaten path things to do and created many unforgettable adventures.

Vera married Don Zwiers on October 24, 1993. It was a perfect match, and they lived the second part of their lives together with lots of love and many fun times. She welcomed his children Laurie (Tom), Nancy, John (Eileen) and Sally into the family with open arms. She and Don spent 19 years with their beloved kitty Dexsi, who was found under Bryan's deck as a kitten.

They had joy of family that included six more grandchildren, Michael, David, Grant Nikki, Sam and Jack. She and Don made numerous trips to spend time with all of their children and grandchildren. Life was an adventure and family was the center.

She is survived by her children Bryan Slinkard (Robin), Lisa Sidles (Tim), Regina Orasco (Greg), grandchildren Michael, David, Grant, Nikki, Sam, Matt, Dan, Morgan, Maddy and Jack, two sisters Kathy Morrison and Gwen (Joe) Morrison, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald Zwiers and her brother Reverend Donald Slover.

She loved life, lived with joy and optimism, believing always that the best is yet to come....

We would like to share our appreciation for her care team at Eden Vista Rock Run Assisted Living and Memory Care. Thank you for the great care and love that you gave to her and the great stories that you shared with us about her adventures with you. We also thank her caregivers at Lightways Hospice Care for your love and kindness in caring for mom.

A celebration of Vera’s her life will be held at Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home & Crematory, 2320 Black Rd., Wednesday, September 9th, at 6:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Forest Preserve of Will County or Lightways Hospice of Joliet will be appreciated and keep her spirit of giving moving forward. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 3:00 – 6:00 P.M.