Lita Kantzler, 87, of Forest Park, died on Oct. 26, 2021. Born on Oct. 17, 1934, she devoted herself to caring for her family and her mother simultaneously for many years. At the same time, she worked as a lunch supervisor at Betsy Ross School in Forest Park for 15+ years. Known affectionately as “Mrs. K,” she greeted the kids daily with a warm smile and encouraging word if they were having a bad day. She treated the “lunch bunch” as if they were her own. She also had the pleasure of working alongside her sister Lucy.
Among her favorite things: the Cubs, Elvis, garage sales, dancing, music, mini-golf, Miller Lite, and the colors red and black; she was a very fashionable woman. Her greatest joy in life was becoming a mother, which led to her next greatest joy, her seven grandchildren. She cherished her time spent with her grandsons whether in person at baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball games, band concerts, dinners out or via Facetime and telephone singing, laughing and telling stories with her granddaughter in London. Whether near or far, her grandchildren were always close at heart.
She loved traveling to Elvis’ Memphis home, Disney, Field of Dreams, Hawaii, California, to see the Last Supper in Milan, and travel within Italy and around London with her family. She had two favorite sayings: “It costs nothing to be kind” and “Love you more.” In her honor, go out in the world and spread kindness, love and compassion just as she did in her faith-filled life.
Lita was the wife of the late Richard; the daughter of the late Angelo and Theresa Piedmont; the sister of Vince (Vera), Lucy (Ron) and Rosalie (deceased); sister-in-law to Betty (Rudy) (deceased) and Paul (Sherry); mother to Therese (Roger), Philip (Heather) and Laura (Craig); grandmother of Andrew, Eric and Ian VanWazer, Logan, Lucas and Liam Kantzler and Chiara Kantzler Buick; aunt to many nieces and nephews; friend to many; and thankful recipient of many years of kindness and care from her neighbors, the Brooks family.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Arthritis Foundation or American Heart Association.
