Saralou Hendrickson (née Smith), 84, of St. Louis, died Feb. 20.

Born on July 27, 1941, in St. Louis to Rita and Louis Smith, Saralou was a loving and faithful wife to the late Carl Henry Hendrickson, who died on April 19, 2025. The couple married on Dec. 30, 1964, in New Madrid, Missouri.

Saralou was a grateful mother to Carl Henry (Hal) Hendrickson Jr. (Brenda), Joseph Louis Hendrickson (Susan) and John Martin Hendrickson (Heather); and a joyful grandmother to Tanner, Paige, Josephine, Cecilia, Norah and Nathan Hendrickson.

She is also survived by her brothers, John and Louie, and her sister, Theresa.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Beth.

Saralou loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, nurse and friend. She was a devoted Catholic and a practitioner of contemplative prayer, finding meaning in quiet reflection and service. She took deep pride in caring for her family and her patients, and she worked thoughtfully to make her neighborhood a good place to live.

She treasured art, music, books and the outdoors. St. Louis was her home, and she delighted in its cultural life, while also savoring travel, especially memorable trips to London, Paris and the eastern Mediterranean. Saralou had a wonderfully off-kilter sense of humor and a particular affection for puns and irony.

She hoped to be remembered by her favorite motto, true to her sense of irony: “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Arrangements will be private per her request. Visit www.saralouh.com.