Bertha Lillian Saari

Bertha L. Saari, age 97, of Lancaster, SC, formerly of Waukegan, IL passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023 in Monroe, NC with her family by her side. Bertha was born on August 27,1925 in Ashland, WI to Iver and Lillian (Hintsa) Salmi.

She attended local schools and graduated from Ashland High School. Bertha married Helge Saari on September 22, 1945 in Ashland, WI. She worked for many years at Sears in Waukegan, IL in their business office. She also worked at the Johns Manville Club as a waitress for weddings, parties and Friday Fish Fry nights. Bertha was a longtime member at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Waukegan. She was also a member of the PTA when her kids were little, the JM Women’s Club, and she really enjoyed going to the Gurnee Senior Center. Bertha enjoyed sewing clothes for her daughters, crocheting afghans for her grandchildren and great grandchildren, playing Mexican Dominoes at the Senior Center in Gurnee and with her wonderful neighbors in the Walnut Creek Subdivision in South Carolina. One of her other great enjoyments was camping with Helge after he retired. Bertha loved her friends in the Stonebrook community of Gurnee. When she moved to South Carolina, The Gardens of Walnut Creek friends and neighbors took her under their wings and called her Mom.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Helge Saari; her parents, Iver and Lillian; two infant brothers; her sister Dagny Hoffman; a son-in-law, Allan Demerritt; her niece, Lynn Coomans and her nephew Todd Nykanen.

Bertha is survived by, her children, Janice Demerritt, Lloyd (Gail) Saari and Sharon (Peter) Fenneman; two sisters, Beatrice Kumpula and Kathleen (Richard) Vogelsang and her brother, Donald (Michelle) Nykanen; grandchildren, Cindy (Jim) Schettino, Allan (Rebecca) Piispanen, Tina (Steve) Copeland, Tammy (Dan) May, Stacy (Brian) Beilke, Chad (Angela) Saari and Crista (Joshua) Short; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Funeral services for Bertha will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, January 23, 2023 at the Marsh Funeral Home (305 N. Cemetery Road, Gurnee, IL 60031) with interment to follow at Highland Memorial Park Cemetery in Libertyville, IL. A visitation will take place at the funeral home on Monday from 12:00 P.M. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to St. Mark's Lutheran Church 3350 N Delany Rd Waukegan IL.