Betty J. Hejl

Betty J. Hejl, 97, of St. Joseph, passed away, Friday, May 13, 2011 at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph with Msgr Eugene Sears officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Liturgical Prayers recited at 6:45 P.M. Memorials may be made to Lakeland Hospice or the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Center. Those wishing to sign Betty's Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Betty was born May 30, 1913 in Chicago to Michael & Bessie (Kriz) Kovar. On June 8, 1935 she married Frank Hejl in Waukegan, IL. Betty retired from Zabo Food Service in Chicago after twenty-five years of service, and settled in St. Joseph. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Beseda Club, and spent many hours at the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Center. Betty enjoyed crocheting, knitting, crafts and baking cookies & cakes. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed doing so for her family and friends, cherishing the time spent with them. Betty is survived by two nephews-Joseph Kovar of St. Joseph, Edward F. (Rose) Kovar of Bridgman; great nephew Edward J. (Sarah) Kovar of Riverside, MI; great niece Betty (William) Blocker of Phoenix AZ; and two great-great nieces-Abigail & Brianna. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank on July 31, 1960, and by two brothers-Joseph & Ben Kovar.