Loretta Jane Baze

Loretta Jane Baze, 90, of Geneseo, passed away at her home on Monday, February 22, 2021.  A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. held on Monday, March 1, 2021, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  Reverend Laura Kamprath will officiate.  A visitation will be held one hour prior, at the funeral home.  Inurnment will be held at North Cemetery, Geneseo.  Memorials may be directed to the Loretta J. Baze Memorial Fund. 

Loretta was born on June 28, 1930, the daughter of Camiel and Marie (Hermanns) Verheye, in Geneseo.  She married Kenneth Baze, at a service held in Geneseo, on July 25, 1953.  He preceded her in death on October 21, 2017.  She was employed by Geneseo High School District 228, in the laundry and cafeteria for over 26 years. She and Kenny had many happy retirement years together. He was the love of her life. She cherished spending time with family and friends and cheering on her grandkids and her "Cubbies".

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Nancy (Dr. Joseph) Ortenzio, New Middletown, OH, and Debbie (Jerry) Hart, Cordova, IL; sons, Daniel (Trish) Mille, Matthews, NC, and Kim (Fran) Baze, Rockford, IL; grandchildren, Dr. Rebecca (Dave) Lee, Aaron (Tamu) Ortenzio, Adam (Amanda) Mille, Kate (Matthew) Harrison, Shauna (Robert) Thoene, Joshua Hart, Kelly Hart, and Zachary Hart.  Loretta was also blessed with ten great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Camiel and Marie; husband, Kenneth; two sisters; and one brother.