Betty Swartz

Betty E. Swartz, 87, of Kankakee, died Tuesday (April 12, 2005) at the Miller Center, after an extended illness.Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, West Kankakee, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday.Cremation rites will be accorded.Inurnment will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens.Memorials may be made for Alzheimer's Research.Mrs. Swartz worked at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant during World War II as a mine inspector. She later worked at Bear Brand Hosiery Co. in Kankakee and for many years at Mantoan's and Mr. Bud's restaurants. She had also worked at Wally's and Blue's Cafe, where she was famous for her pie baking.She was born Aug. 20, 1917, in Zalma, Mo., the daughter of John Eli and Emma Myrtle Borders Richards.Her first husband, Floyd Swartz, whom she married Feb. 6, 1946, in Kankakee, died July 27, 1978.Surviving are her husband, Lewis Firmwalt of Kankakee, whom she married April 25, 1986, in Las Vegas, Nev.; one daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Jeffrey Ishmiel of Bourbonnais; one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Phyllis Swartz of Chatsworth; one stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Charles and Patricia Firmwalt of Mesa, Ariz.; seven grandchildren, Michelle (Michael) Pinski of Kankakee, Matthew Ishmiel of Bourbonnais, Kelly (Rocky) Battrell and Ryan Swartz, both of Kankakee, Jaime Swartz of Colorado, Nicholas Swartz and Jenna Swartz, both of Kankakee; five great-grandchildren, Jace Battrell, Allison Battrell, Mya Pinski and Ava Pinski, all of Kankakee, and Logan Swartz of Colorado; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Ed and Rosalee Richards of Zalma, Mo., Clarence and Betty Richards of Olney, Lemon and Dorothy Richards of St. Louis, Mo.; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Effie and Bill Grisham of St. Louis, Mo., Bernice Wilson of St. Charles, Mo., Melva and Jack Phillips of Greenfield, Ind.; and numerous stepchildren, stepgrandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.One son, Stephen Swartz; one granddaughter, Natalie Swartz; three brothers, Otto Richards, Hosie Richards and Harvey Richards; and two sisters, Edna Garner and Lola Gerecks, are deceased.Mrs. Swartz was a former member of St. John United Church of Christ.She enjoyed dancing, playing cards, traveling, her children and grandchildren.

Betty Swartz

August 20, 1917 - April 12, 2005