Elizabeth "Liz" Ann Bertolotto

Elizabeth “Liz” Ann Bertolotto, 73, passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at Presence St. Anne Center surrounded by her daughters and husband of 51 years after suffering from complications of Parkinson ’s disease and related falls. She was born April 1, 1944, in Deadwood, SD, the daughter of Theodore and Kathryn Oates. Liz was a graduate of Lead High School in Lead, the class of 1962. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics from South Dakota State University in 1966. Liz married Vincent A. Bertolotto on August 21, 1966, in Lead and they moved to Rockford in 1967. She taught for 3 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Later as her children got older, she worked as the membership secretary at Alpine Lutheran Church and at Hancock Fabrics for 15 years before retiring in 2001. She was a member of Alpine Lutheran Church. Liz enjoyed sewing, especially for her daughters and grandchildren, gardening, volunteering at RSVP and Alpine Lutheran Church, Knitting preemie hats for Rockford Memorial Hospital, bowling, bicycling, fishing, boating up north and traveling many places, including all over the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Northern Mediterranean coast. The family would like to thank the staff of Presence St. Anne Center and Northern Illinois Hospice for their love and support during this difficult time.
Survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Vince; her daughters, Dawn (Andrew) McKay of McHenry and Sara (Paul) Horst of Guthrie, OK; 4 grandchildren, Danielle, Evan, Caleb, and Jackson, her brother, James (Muriel) Oates; three sisters-in-law, Judy Hink, Cara Pat (Robert) Phillips, and Beth Bertolotto; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at Alpine Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Monday, February 19, 2018, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford and again from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. on Tuesday at the church. Cremation rites will be accorded following the services. Memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD. 21741-5014 or to Northern Illinois Hospice, 4215 Newburg Rd. Rockford, 61108. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.