Bernadette R. (Brown) Balzarini

Bernadette R. Balzarini, 94, of Ottawa, IL, passed away Friday December 11, 2020 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Due to COVID restrictions, private services will be held at St. Columba Church. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Bernadette was born July 21, 1926, in Ottawa, to Edward J. and Catherine (Murry) Brown, Sr. She graduated from St. Xavier Academy. She married Frank Cook, and together they had two children. On November 18, 1989, she married John Balzarini at St. Columba Church; he passed away August 25, 2014.

Bernie retired from Snap-On Tools Corporation. She was a member of St. Columba Church, Altar and Rosary Society, CDA, AARP, and served as a volunteer for the Community Hospital of Ottawa in the Admitting Department.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Rita (Lewis) Cushing of Ottawa and a son, James (Linda) Cook of Rock Falls; six grandchildren, Kathleen (Eric) Rombach, Michael (Ingrid) Cushing, Anthony Cook, Danny (Amanda) Cook, Candy (Tim) Slayton, and Christine Barandela; great-grandchildren, Kelcie, Mackenzie, Keating, and Erin Rombach, Luke and Emma Cushing, Matthew Gibsen, Jenna Barandela, and Landon Cook.

Bernadette was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; her sister, Katherine M. Brown; brother, Edward Brown; and two sisters in infancy.

Pallbearers will be Eric and Keating Rombach, Michael and Luke Cushing, Daniel Cook, and Thomas Brown.

Memorials may be directed to St. Columba Church.