Lydia Sophia Tower, 90, formerly of Kenosha and most recently of Clearwater, Florida, passed away Tuesday, June 28 at Westchester Gardens in Clearwater, Florida.Born in Kenosha County on October 2, 1920, she was the daughter of William and Christine (Wilhelm) Heckel. As a child, she attended grade school and high school in Kenosha, Wisconsin.On December 4, 1937, she married Chester Tower, Sr. He passed away November 28, 1995 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.Lydia worked at Jockey International and at Abbott Laboratory, where she retired after 20 years of employment as a lab technician in 1986.Lydia was a longtime member and former Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Eastern Star OES #285, a White Shrine Past Priestess, Secretary and Past Matron, a former CYC Auxiliary President, and a member of the Kenosha Hospice Alliance Auxiliary. She worked diligently as a volunteer for many organizations including the Kenosha Soup Kitchen. Working in the church garden was one of her favorite pastimes. Lydia is survived by her two sons, Chester Tower, Jr. of New Port Richey, Florida and William Tower of Naples, Florida, four grandsons, David, Jason, Eric and Michael and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her twelve brothers and two sisters.Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 6 at 12:00 noon at Proko Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of services at Proko Funeral Home. The Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #92 will conduct services at 11:45 am.
Condolences
Nancy Wienke Hall
July 6, 2011
To Chet, Bill and family, It was with great sadness that we learned of Aunt Lydia's passing. The many memories flooded my mind and heart. You will all be in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead. She has certainly left a hole in your lives, but may your memories bring joy to fill it with peace knowing she is now in God's arms. Many of my memories are from my childhood, growing up one block away from your home. Something I speak of often is that Aunt Lydia provided me with my first job - I came down to her house every Saturday and made Cinnamon Streusel Coffeecake without nuts for your dad!) and dusted and vacuumed the house while it baked. For this I was paid $1.00! My how times have changed! To this day the angel I place at the top of my angel tree every Christmas is the one she gave me many years ago. It was the blue Avon one that she also had in her curio. And I couldn't remember her many treasures in her curio without remembering all her mice! In my mom and dad's last years she became their angel that, since I lived away, was very thankful for her watchful eye over them. When I'd come back to town we'd always have coffee and treats at your moms. She was also the reason I have family pictures on the walls of my home. She had a real knack for displaying them beautifully. One special memory was the last visit she and my mom took to Minnesota. It was for our daughter Janelle's wedding and what a grand celebratory time we all had, especially seeing both of them out on the dance floor laughing and enjoying family. They were planning to attend Jolene's wedding in Montana but that was not to be as mom passed away just months before their wedding. Oh what fun they would have had celebrating in the mountains! Your mom would have been the first on the dance floor! I loved her zest for life which was always infectious! Aunt Lydia was an example to many of how to be a helper to many and that life isn't all about us, but the many hurting people who benefited from her generosity. She will be remembered always. God bless and be with you all as you share stories and remembrances today. I wish I could be with you today as you share memories. Know that I am with you in thoughts and prayers. Aunt Lydia is the last of the Heckel siblings and I pray that the next generation of Heckels will be able to leave the same kind of legacy she is leaving with the generosity and joyful spirit she always showed to many. Love, Nancy