Bernadine Elvira Zager, 101, died on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024.
Services are planned for Friday, Aug. 30, with visitation at 10 to 11 a.m. at Litchfield Family Funeral Service. Burial will be in St. Raymond Catholic Cemetery next to her sisters Gertrude and Lucille. They always said “together in life, together in death.” Litchfield Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Zager was born April 7, 1923, in Harvel, to Henry and Margaret (Giezelman) Zager; she was one of three sisters who remained close their entire life.
Family will always remember “Aunt Bernie” as a help to her sister and looking after nieces. She enjoyed her twin great-nieces staying during the summer and they thought it was fun to walk everywhere as Ms. Zager never learned to drive.
Ms. Zager was a past member of the Royal Neighbors of America, once played in the Kitchen Band with the Senior Citizens of Litchfield and was a member of The Holy Parish Church. She was a St. Louis Cardinal fan and collected several red bird statues that led to collecting other birds. Now she leaves her family with over 250 bird statues.
Ms. Zager never married as she said “boys were trouble.” Therefore, she lived her life through her family.
Ms. Zager is survived by her beloved nieces Jeannette (Michael) Miloncus of Taylorville, Sherry (Larry) Toberman of Texas and Kerry Sue Wilton of Hillsboro; great-nieces Jeanine (Daryl) Garner of Sharpsburg, Jill (Tim) Szabo of Tennessee, Joy Lynn Beemen of Taylorville, Debbie Azavido of California and great-nephew, Martin Bettis of California; stepgreat-children Kathey Miloncus of North Carolina, Michael Lee (Sonya) Miloncus of North Carolina and Joseph (Tammy) Miloncus of Bulpitt; great-great-nieces Cortney (Aaron) Sinnard and Kaitlyn Warren, both of Taylorville and Kelsey Ernst of St. Louis, MO; great-great-great-nephews Waylon Warren and Denver Crowder, both of Taylorville; and soon to be born great-great-great baby Sinnard.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Gertrude Wilton and Lucille Arthur.
Condolences may be left online at www.litchfieldffs.com
