Elizabeth Schill

CARBONDALE - Elizabeth June Vivian Mestas Schill was promoted to full time angel on September 3, 2018, after graduating from life with high honors in kindness and love.



Born in Trinidad, Colorado on September 27, 1934, to David and Aurora Baca Mestas, Liz attended New Mexico Highlands University. She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, a minor in Art/Art History and most importantly, the love of her life, Tom Schill, whom she married on June 11, 1960.



After teaching elementary school in Nebraska, Liz moved to Carbondale with Tom where she raised two beautiful girls. She began sharing her gifts part-time teaching crafts at the Senior Center in 1972. She gave her time and talents, and with Carol Johnson, started the Carbondale Adult Day Care Center. Liz served on the Board of the Department of Aging in Southern Illinois. She became the Director of the Adult Day Care in 1988. Although she retired in 2005, Liz never left and volunteered to teach crafts, visit her friends and decorate the tables to usher in each season at the Center.



Liz loved the Arts. As a young adult, she studied painting with Arthur Mitchell in Trinidad, Colorado. She later took private voice lessons in Carbondale. She loved opera, painting, crafting, ceramics and arranging flowers. She was a member of the Morning Etude Club, Garden Club, and was active in the National Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, SIU Women’s Club, Delta Zeta sorority, Delta Zeta Alumni, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and her book club.



Most important to Liz, was her faith in God and her family. She is survived by her beloved husband Tom, her brothers David and Leonard Mestas, her sister Julia Torres, her daughters Kathleen Landecker (David), Janet Schill (James Raffensperger), her five grandchildren, Joshua Landecker, Justin Landecker, Lauren Landecker, Elaina Raffensperger-Schill and Malika Raffensperger-Schill and many friends. Everyone who knew Liz will cherish the moments they had with her and be eternally grateful for her warm heart, big hugs and her loving touch. Although she will be terribly missed, her family and friends know that her promotion to angel was well-deserved and befitting for such a wonderful and caring wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend.



Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Carbondale. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary and prayer service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 7 at Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale.



In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carbondale Senior Citizens Center: Adult Day Care. Please mark the memorial for the Adult Day Care. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church.



To leave a story or memory of Liz, visit ww.meredithfh.com