Grace Friedel

Grace Marion Friedel, 95, (formerly Grace Marion Watts) passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at Rolling Hills Manor, Zion, IL. Grace was born October 6, 1915, Racine, WI, to Julia and DeWitt Farmer. She was raised in Zion and spent most of her life living there along with living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for 7 years. Grace was a member of the Memorial United Methodist Church in Zion for most of her life where she was active in church circles. She was married to Harry E. Watts, a Navy Chief, in 1935 until he passed away in 1972. She married Aaron J. Friedel on August 28, 1993. Aaron and Grace had been lifelong friends and went to school together in Zion. Grace worked at several nursing homes in Waukegan and Zion as an activity assistant where she always enjoyed doing art projects with the residents. She was an amateur artist and spent a lot of time oil painting (flowers and landscapes) and doing ceramics. She also enjoyed cooking and baking, being with her family members for celebrations, and enjoyed traveling with her husband, Aaron. Her favorite places to visit were the Hawaiian Islands, Colorado, California, and Alaska. Grace enjoyed helping people and was known for making meals and desserts for friends and family when they were ill. She loved living in Zion and especially loved Lake Michigan. Survivors include her husband, Aaron Friedel; children from her late husband, Mary A. (Russell) Leight of Johnsburg, IL, Harry E. (Janine) Watts of Barnes, WI, and Richard C. Watts of Santa Barbara, CA; grandchildren, Linda (Jeff) Ruiz of Huntington Beach, CA, Stephen Watts of San Francisco, CA, Renee Watts of Eugene, WA, Michelle (Luke) Bienfang of Bellevue, WA, Nicholas Leight of Johnsburg, IL, Jennifer (Adam) Brushaber of Vernon Hills, IL and Allison (Dale) Schultz of Springfield, IL; great-grandchildren, Nick Leight Jr. of Cary, IL, Summer Grace Leight of Cary, IL, Maureen Wall of Frisco, TX, Andy Ruiz of Huntington Beach, CA, Alyssa and Emily Bienfang, both of Bellevue, WA; great-great grandchildren, Raidon and Korbin Wall both of Frisco, TX; and nieces, Julie (Gary) Fanning of Gurnee, IL, Kathy (Larry) Hedrick of Ocala, FL, Sandy Heathcote of Winthrop Harbor, IL, and Dorothy Wynn of Murrieta, CA. She was preceded in death by Fred Lindahl, former husband; sisters, Helen Heathcote and Jewel Bower; nephew, Edward Heathcote; and brothers-in-law, Alfred Heathcote and Fred Bower. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 18, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial United Methodist Church, 2935 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL, with Rev. Kwadwo Ntim officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. Friends may greet the family on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Memorial donations are suggested to the Memorial United Methodist Church.