Elizabeth Suzanne Sirek

Elizabeth Suzanne Sirek, age 81, of Ottawa, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

Elizabeth was born May 24, 1943 in East Chicago, Indiana, one of twelve children of Frank and Caroline (Michalik) Ziemniak. She married Wayne G. Sirek on December 17, 1966 at East Chicago, Indiana. Wayne preceded her in death June 12, 2016. Surviving are her children, Katherine (Ronald) Bruck of Yorkville, Karole (Rob) Wilson of Ottawa, Patricia Cubstead of Charles City, Virginia and Wayne (Jean) Sirek II of Ottawa; sixteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Elizabeth also leaves siblings Edward Ziemniak, Mary O'Donnell and John Ziemniak; a sister-in-law, Virginia Ziemniak; as well as several nieces and nephews. Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Matthew J. Sirek and eight siblings.

Elizabeth was known as "Betty" to some, and most recently as "Beth" to others. She was a devout member of St. Columba Church in Ottawa. She served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of first lieutenant as a registered nurse. Beth was an avid reader and loved to spend time at the library. She was extremely intelligent and could solve crossword puzzles with ease and always in ink, Scrabble games were her favorite. She was an avid bargain hunter, often finding the best deals to those who would inquire! Beth found great fulfillment in serving and assisting others who might be going through a challenging time. She was known to frequently bake and share treats with friends. Beth was organized and attentive to her family and enjoyed hearing about the adventures of her grandchildren.

Memorial Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 6th at St. Patrick Church in Ottawa with Fr. Justin Ramza celebrating. Military honors by the U.S. Army and American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard will follow. The family would like to extend an invitation for friends and family to join them at Starved Rock Lodge for a time of remembering and celebrating Beth following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, green plants would be most appreciated.