Lilly Smits

Lilly Diamond Smits, 85 of Streator and formerly of Aurora and West Virginia passed away on Wednesday evening (Sept. 7th) in Streator.

A private family visitation will be held on Sunday from 1-3PM at the Winterrowd Funeral Home.  A private family service will be held on Sunday at 3PM at the funeral home.  Burial will be in River Hills Cemetery in Batavia, IL following cremation.  

Lilly was born on March 8, 1931 in Nolan, W. Virginia to James and Myrtle (Blevins) Diamond. 

Surviving is daughter, Sheila (Harold) Kuhlemeyer and sons, Roy Alexander, Jr. and Jerry Newsome all of Streator, 6 grandchildren, Christopher, Roy III, Shaun, Brad, Melony and Shelby and many great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William Smits, a daughter in infancy, grandson, Anthony Moore, great grandson, Logan Jacobs, brothers, Cecil, Ralph and Otis and sisters, Geneva, Lorraine, Madge and Mary.

Lilly was of the Baptist faith.  She was born in the depression in West Virginia in a coal mining community.  This created a strong determined person who came to Chicago for a better life in 1960.  She worked hard and eventually opened her own business in the Lakeview community in Chicago by the name of Lills Lounge, a neighborhood Tavern.  She knew the meaning of unconditional love and loved her family, creating many happy memories in her family’s lives. 

Memorials may be made to the family of Lilly Diamond Smits.