On February 11, 2016, Lillian Chuchut Heminover, of Chicago, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Born in Chicago on December 15, 1930, Lillian was the third child of Ludmila and Stephen Chuchut. She attended Carl Schurz High School, earned her teaching degree from Chicago Teacher's College, and her master's degree in gifted education from Northeastern Illinois University. She taught in the Chicago Public Schools for over thirty years. Lillian married Richard, the love of her life, on the eve of his induction into the Army in 1950 and they did not see each other for a year and a half while he served in Korea. They started a family upon his return. She was a loving mother to Stephen, Dale and Jane. After Richard's untimely death in 1975, she returned to teaching full time and put all her children through college while working on her master's degree. Lillian was passionate about music and fine arts education and put that passion to work for her students. The majority of her career was spent as Fine Arts Coordinator at Frederick Funston Elementary School where she taught thousands of students music, art, theater and dance. She established a children's chorus that performed throughout the city and directed, accompanied, and sewed costumes for many school assembly programs and musicals. Lillian planned countless field trips, summer classes and guest visits for her students to the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Many of her former students remained in touch with her throughout the years. One of the accomplishments of which she was the most proud was co-founding the youth dance group Junior Ensemble Espanol (later renamed the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Youth Company) with Dame Libby Komaiko. She served on the Board of Directors for Ensemble Espanol for many years, even after her retirement. Lillian was also a loving and cherished Grandmother to Christina, Richard and Peter Schonberg. Lillian was preceded by her parents, her sisters Anne Butler and Mildred Chuchut, and loving husband Richard. She is survived by her children Stephen, Dale (Conni), and Jane Schonberg (William); three grandchildren Christina, Richard, and Peter Schonberg; niece Betty Wulf-Rice; nephews Oran Lee Butler, Paul Granell, and David Granell; great-nephews Todd and Scott Wulf, and Matthew and Brian Butler; great-great-nieces and -nephews, and cousins. Visitation Friday, February 19, 2016 from 3:00 to 9:00 pm at Cooney Funeral Home, 3918 West Irving Park Road, Chicago. Service Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 11:00 am at Irving Park Lutheran Church, 3938 West Belle Plaine Ave, Chicago. Interment Acacia Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Ensemble Espanol (www.ensembleespanol.org; 5500 N St Louis Ave Chicago, IL 60625). Inquiries: Cooney Funeral Home (773) 588-5850. Online guestbook at www.cooneyfuneralhome.com.