Berta Stonis

Berta Stonis, 93, of Zion, IL died on October 19, 2011. Born November 22, 1918 in Germany she has lived in Zion the past 25 years. She was employed at Great Lakes Naval Base, Illinois Beach State Park Lodge, and was an entrepreneur. She had a bar, a restaurant, and ran a hotel before going back to school to become a florist until she retired. She loved the country and loved living in Zion. Her true passion was flowers and plants. She had hundreds of plants and could grow anything with her green thumb. She was born in Germany and came to America in 1949 after losing her husband. She came here with nothing and made a life for herself. Survived by children Mariana Hetzer and Vito Stonis; grandchildren Tara Denise, Dennis Hetzer, Rachel Stonis, and Ian Stonis; Great-grandchild Madeleine Denise McGrath; great-great-grandchild Jackson Denise McGrath; and four brothers and three sisters. Graveside services Saturday, October 29, 2011, 1:00 p.m. at Benton-Greenwood Cemetery, N. Greenbay Road, Beach Park, IL.