Areta Mae Lucash

Areta spent her early adult life raising her seven children and managing the family home. After her children were grown, she worked at the Freeburg Village Hall for many years, until such time that she and her husband retired and moved to Winterhaven, Florida, where they lived for 9 years before moving back to Freeburg.

Areta was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur A. Lucash, whom she married on June 7, 1949, and whom died on December 20, 2000; her parents Leo and Elsie Kessler (nee Zeilmann); two sisters, Shirley (Homer) Linder, and Leora (Harold) Wiegmann; a brother, Gerald “Chuck” Kessler; sons, Thomas and Clark Lucash; and daughter, Jennie (Dave) Wicklman. She is grieved by her living children, including sons Randy (Cheryl) Lucash, Daniel (Debra) Lucash, Patric (Judy) Lucash, and daughter, Julie (Kevin) Zeisset; her dear sister-in-law, Peggy (formerly Kessler) Emery; grandchildren, including Stephanie Rheinhardt, Neill (Amy) Lucash, Eric Lucash, Mathew (Amanda) Lucash, Shelly (Matthew) Lipham, Rachael Wicklman, Joseph Lucash and Alyvia Lucash; and great-grandchildren, including Chloe Rheinhardt, Caleb Rheinhardt, Noah Lipham, Aden Lipham, Brody Lucash, Ruby Lucash and Leif Lucash; and many caring nieces and nephews.

Areta enjoyed traveling with her husband and their friends, including Ed and Esther Weber, John and Ona Higgins, John and Bernie Long, John and Lulu Brown, and Norton and Sue Henke; and later with her dear friends, including Verna Kuklinski, Jeri Kessler, Myrtle Pyatt and Virginia Funk (apologies if anyone was left out). She also enjoyed gardening, interior decorating, shopping and reading.

Areta was elegant and gracious, and never judgmental of anyone. She was the very heart and soul of her family, and will be forever missed.

Visitation / Celebration of Life: Friends are asked to visit and share memories of this beautiful lady on Friday, April 21, 2023 between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm at Renner Funeral Home, 206 S. Richland Street, Freeburg, IL.