Obituary of Elizabeth Sowa

Elizabeth “Betty” Sowa, nee Tordai, age 100, passed away peacefully, Monday, January 11, 2021 at Salem Village.

She was born September 20, 1920, at home on a farm in Jackson Township, Elwood, IL to the late Andrew and Elizabeth (Juhasy) Tordai.  She lived all her life in the Joliet area.  She had a passion for vegetable gardening, even growing peanuts, and growing beautiful flowers.  She was known for taking a leaf of an African Violet, growing it into a beautiful plant, and then giving it away.

Elizabeth was an amazing cook, specializing in Hungarian dishes and Polish food for her husband.  Her secret ingredient in “Potica” was pineapple preserves.  She loved to play Bingo and was very talented, having a ceramic shop in her home on Laraway Road.

She is survived by two sons, Leonard Sowa, and Alan (Laurie) Sowa; one daughter, Lillian (Douglas) Haywood; one daughter-in-law, Lorraine Sowa; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Norma (Michael) Tordai and Emily (Ben) Sowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, in 1994; a son, Eugene, in 2013; three brothers, Joseph, Andrew (Helen), and Michael Tordai; and two sisters, Mary (Geza) Nemeth and Isabelle (Geza) Garnai.

The family wishes a heart-filled thank you for the excellent care given to her on the first floor of Salem Village.

Funeral services and interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery will be held privately by the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name to Joliet Area Community Hospice would be appreciated. Please visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.