Mrs. Hetty Mae Church

December 06, 1912 - January 15, 2012

Belvidere, IL

Hetty Mae (Johns) Church, 99, of Belvidere, IL and in recent months residing at Bickford Assisted Living in Oswego, IL, died on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Bickford. She was born on December 6, 1912 in Sauk County, Wisconsin to George and Anna (Luetscher) Johns.

Hetty married Alvin J. Church of Caledonia, IL in Oswego, IL at the Oswego Presbyterian Church on June 11, 1949. They were married by a childhood friend of hers, Rev. Alan Darling.

She served in the U. S. Navy WAVES during WW II from January, 1944 to August, 1946 as a Mailman, First Class. She was stationed in Chicago, New York, and Great Lakes. She was proud to have served along with all of her siblings at the same time.

Hetty was a graduate of Alden, IL High School and Whitewater Teachers’ College (Univ. of Wis. – Whitewater). She taught in one-room schools in Wisconsin and also taught grade school at Hebron, IL.

She owned and operated H&H Grocery in Poplar Grove, IL with her sister and husband during the 1950’s. As a homemaker and farmwife, she helped with the farm chores, such as milking, caring for the chicken flock, and running her own egg route. She then also worked at and retired from Woodward Governor Co. in Rockford, IL.

She was an active member, and currently the oldest member, of the Poplar Grove United Methodist Church in Poplar Grove, IL and the United Methodist Women / Ladies’ Aid Society. She also was an active member of the Boone Co. Homemakers Extension Association, Poplar Grove Unit; the Boone Co. Farm Bureau; and the American Legion, Oswego Post.

Hetty was also an avid Cubs and Packers fan. She loved to bake, crochet, do cryptograms and crosswords, take drives with friends and family through the Wisconsin countryside and she especially loved to care for her flowers, overwintering and growing hundreds of geraniums each year. She will be missed for her generous and loving spirit of helping others.

She is survived by two sons and their spouses, Greg (Marie) of Lady Lake, FL and John (Mary) of Oswego, IL. and by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Hetty was predeceased by her husband; parents; grandson, Steven Michael Church; two brothers and their spouses, Lloyd (Evelyn) Johns and Harold (Helen) Johns; her sister, Harriet Johns and by several nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by special friends Grace Dyer and Norma Peters.

Funeral Information

Services will be held at the Poplar Grove United Methodist Church, IL Rt. 173, Poplar Grove, IL (http://pgumc.us) on Saturday, January 21 with visitation from 9:30 to 11:00 am, followed by the service at 11:00 am.

Donations Information

In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions can be made to the Poplar Grove United Methodist Church, 105 East Grove St, Poplar Grove, IL 61065. In addition, to carry on the practice which Hetty faithfully followed every Sunday when going to church, those attending the service are invited to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Boone County Food Pantry.