Eileen Bayer

Eileen Joyce Bayer, 90, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, August 14, 2025 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 21, at Ottawa Funeral Home from 4:00pm until 6:00pm. A funeral ceremony will follow at 6:00pm. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.

Eileen was born March 12, 1935, in Ottawa, IL to Everett and Blanche (Bultman) Dittmer. She was raised on a farm and from a young age showed cattle in the 4H. She went on to become a CNA and for 37 years, worked at LaSalle County Nursing Home. She was an avid Chicago Bears and Cubs fan and a Nascar super fan. The highlight of her life was when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. She was a coffee cup collector and collected them from all over the world. She enjoyed traveling to Wisconsin and visited many race tracks, she loved all animals, especially her cats, and bird watching.

She is survived by her children, Susan (Patrick) Hughes, Patrick (Donna) Bayer, Matthew Bayer, and Lorinda (Michael) Finch; her 6 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Everette and Blanche; and her great granddaughter, Heather Dawn.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be directed to Pet Project or the Ottawa Food Pantry.