Betty Jean Pienta

SPRING VALLEY — Betty Jean (Lardi) Pienta, 82, of 1027 W. Third St., Spring Valley, passed away peacefully at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, June 15, 2013, in her home with her husband and children by her side. She courageously battled cancer for the last three and one-half years.

Born March 26, 1931, in Gardner to Geno and Hazel (Treasure) Lardi, she married Joseph James Pienta Jan. 10, 1953, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marseilles.

She graduated from Marseilles High School in 1949 and attended L-P-O. She graduated from the LaSalle School of Beauty in 1968, which she then owned BJ's Beauty Shop from 1968 to 1995.

She was a member of the Marseilles Methodist Church until becoming a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in 1954, where she was an active member of the church choir as well as participating as part of the funeral Mass choir. She was a member of St. Margaret's Hospital Auxiliary.

"Noni's greatest joy was her involvement and time she spent with her family. The legacy she leaves for everyone that she touched is her unconditional love and the importance of family and friends."

Surviving are her husband, Joseph Pienta of Spring Valley; one daughter, Gina (Mac) Cawley of LaSalle; two sons, James (Tammy) Pienta of Spring Valley and Joseph W. Pienta of Spring Valley; eight grandchildren, Bridgett Piacenti of Evanston, Shanna Cawley of Peru, Mick Pienta of Spring Valley, Morgan Cawley of Chicago, Brianna Verucchi of Spring Valley, Andy Cawley of Peru, and Paige and Joey Pienta of Spring Valley; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Wilma Farrell and Shirley Moats.

Prayers will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Barto Funeral Home, Spring Valley, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. Robert Spilman officiating. Burial will be in Valley Memorial Park, Spring Valley.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the donor's choice.

A guestbook may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.bartofh.com.