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Celebration of Life Information

Myron Chenault, sitting with a smile in a gray sweater and olive pants. The words "Manchester BOLD" are to his right.
Dad, seen here telling a story to an interviewer for Manchester University.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP

When: Friday, September 26, 2025 @ 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Where: Marquette Park Pavilion Shelter

What: We'll have a fairly short "service." The remaining time will be an opportunity to fellowship and enjoy memories of Dad together. Bring your best memory and be prepared to share it with someone new.

Notes:

  • Dad wanted a party, not a funeral. He wanted people to celebrate together. Even if we all are still feeling his loss, there's no reason we can't honor him with love and joy. Please bring an open spirit with you to this occasion.
  • Select speakers can get up and talk, but it won't be an open microphone, no matter the relationship or depth of emotion. Instead, I will encourage folks to share a story about Dad in conversation with other people. This reminder will also be given during the celebration.
  • This event will take place in lovely Marquette Park. If it rains or there are other issues with being outside we will explore other options. Either way, space will be limited, as Myron was loved by so many of you. RSVPs will also be done on this website.

NOTE: We will be in Marquette Park at the Picnic Pavilion. I’m including a map here that I will reference in this post using pictures.

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Getting There

Dad’s celebration of life will be held in the picnic pavilion on Friday, September 26th.

When you arrive there will be a parking lot (marked as 10 on the map) right above the main area we will be for the duration of the event. That area (marked as 3 on the map) has picnic tables and benches but we could always use a few more. Feel free to bring your own chair if you’re completely sure you’ll need a place to sit, though we are locating additional chairs and tables to accommodate folks‘ needs and comfort levels. The event space itself also has multiple nooks and ledges - with and without roofing - in addition to the lakefront behind it where folks can congregate.

We will be serving a light lunch and welcome any contributions for the table. Contact me over email if you have any questions!

rchenault@gmail.com

Schedule for the Day

10 am - folks gather and contribute a memory to the box (I’ll explain when folks get there)

11 am - selected speakers will get up and share about dad

12 pm - congregate, fellowship, celebrate 

2 pm - close

Thanks to everyone who has contributed and plans to attend!

Traveling

IMPORTANT NOTE: Checking the schedule for the South Shore Line will save you a lot of heartache. It's a great system that stops right where you want to be for this. Including the link here - https://mysouthshoreline.com/

By Plane – I highly recommend flying into either Chicago airport (ORD or MDW) and taking the South Shore line down OR renting a car.

By Train -- Amtrak's Chicago-to-Cincinnati Midwest Corridor line (tel. 800/872-7245; www.amtrak.com) makes stops in Lafayette, Indianapolis, and Connersville. There are also the Cardinal and Hoosier State lines. The Cardinal runs between New York and Chicago, while the Hoosier State runs between Indianapolis and Chicago. Both lines make stops in Connersville, Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, Lafayette, Rensselaer, and Dyer, Indiana. I recommend simplifying your life and taking it to Chicago, then traveling back down to Gary/Miller station.

By Car: UPDATE: WE HAVE MOVED THE CELEBRATION TO A PAVILION IN MARQUETTE PARK. From northwest at Lake Michigan and Gary, I-65 runs through Indianapolis, all the way to Clarksville, and on into Kentucky. I-69 enters from Michigan in the north and heads straight to the center of the state, ending in Indianapolis, while I-80/90 in the northernmost part of the state cuts east to west from Ohio to Illinois. There are several east-to-west options in the central and southern portions of the state as well: I-70 and I-74 (which takes you directly to the Indianapolis Speedway), both of which run through Indianapolis, and I-64, which starts in the east at Clarksville and ends in the western part of the state in Griffin.

Places to Stay (Suggestions, as there are many options to choose from)

Portage, Indiana Hotels:

Country Inn and Suites by Radisson: 1630 Olmstead Dr., Portage, IN 219‐764‐0021
Baymont by Wyndham Hotel: 2323 Willowcreek Rd., Portage, IN 219‐706‐3058
Holiday Inn Express & Suites: 6295 Melton Rd., Portage, IN 219‐734‐6000
Affordable Suites of America: 1550 Olmstead Dr., Portage, IN 219‐734‐6111

Chesterton, Indiana Hotels:
Hampton Inn Chesterton, 501 Gateway Blvd, Chesterton, IN 46304

WaterBird Lakeside Inn: 556 Indian Boundary Rd, Chesterton, IN 46304 219‐928‐1501

Merrillville, Indiana Hotels:

Hilton Garden Inn: 7775 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN 46410 219‐769‐7100
Staybridge Suites: 8415 Louisiana St., Merrillville, IN 219‐472‐8400
Holiday Inn Express & Suites: 8460 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN 46410 219‐472‐1200
LaQuinta Inn by Wyndham: 8210 Louisiana St., Merrillville, IN 46410 219‐738‐2870