Angela Lexa

Angela M. "Angie" Lexa, age 84, of Sycamore, formerly of Elburn and Virgil areas, past owner of The Kountry Kettle, passed away at her home, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family on Friday, March 21, 2014. She was born January 29, 1930, the daughter of Nicholas and Katherine Schramer.Angie grew up in Virgil, helped with chores on the family farm and attended local schools. Later she attended beauty school. Her studies kept her busy, but not too busy to be courted by William L. "Bill" Brummel. They were soon married at S. S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church on May 20, 1950. Bill and Angie made their home in Virgil where Angie worked as a hairdresser out of her home. Their family began to grow and eventually filled the house with ten children and thousands of memories. After Bill’s passing in 1967, Angie continued waitressing for a time before the family moved to Mooseheart in August of 1967. Angie never shied away from work and began working in the kitchens of Mooseheart. While there she met Zdenek "Dennis" Lexa who had three children of his own and were also residents of Mooseheart. Dennis proposed on their second date and they were married six months later on April 11, 1970. The family grew by two more soon thereafter for a total of fifteen children.Angie may have started her cooking career in the kitchens of Mooseheart but she stood on her own when she started a catering company she ran out of her kitchen in 1975. Six years later she and Dennis purchased the Elburn Kountry Kettle in 1981. The business would stay in the family when it was bought by her daughter, Mary, in 1996. Angie left the kitchen in 2002 to focus on her "grandma duties". Angie and Dennis, and their "blended" family made their home in Lily Lake, Later in 1990 they moved to Elburn. Following Dennis’ passing in 2002, Angie moved to Sycamore where she continued to make memories with each new generation of grandchildren. Angie was a lifetime member of S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Angie had a big and loving heart, but as all fifteen children can attest to, she had an even bigger wooden spoon which helped keep everyone in line and the house in order. When the grandchildren came into the picture, the spoon disappeared because in grandma’s eyes, they could do no wrong. Making daily meals for such a crowd was no mean feat but that was nothing when it came to the holidays. Two turkeys and a ham were common place, but one year it was a 44lb bird that took the cake. Putting bricks in the oven to lower the shelves just didn’t do the trick so they had to cut the turkey in half and cook it in two pots, much to Angie’s chagrin. Her hospitality at the restaurant was legendary but it was born in her home. Visitors would have a plate of food in hand before they even had a chance to sit down. With a house always full with kids, grandkids, friends and neighbors, it wasn’t unusual for Angie to keep up with five conversations at once. As well as Angie did in the kitchen, she failed miserably in the garden. Her black thumb was the ruin of many a plant, and even rumored to have killed off a plastic one. The same could be said for her sewing abilities. What normally could be done with needle and thread, Angie accomplished with a stapler, some glue and dogged determination. Angie was one of a kind who lived a one of a kind life. She was often heard to say, You gotta do, what you gotta do, when you gotta do it and forget the rest. She did it her way, one day at a time, filling each precious hour with love, laughter and memories. She will forever be missed, but never forgotten. She is survived by her 14 children: Bill (Pat) Brummel,Allan Brummel, Karen (Stan) Sikorski,Rick Brummel,Dave (Debbie) Brummel,Sharon (Don) Hart,Ken (Marsha) Brummel,Steve Brummel,Jim Lexa,Mary Whitney,Tom (Myla) Lexa,Julie Brummel,Dennis (Barb Parrish) Lexa,Michelle (Pat) White,Many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren;Three siblings: Marion Umbdenstock, Clara Schmitt and Joseph (Mary Ann) SchramerSeveral nieces and nephews and a countryside of friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands’ William Brummel and Dennis Lexa, son John Lexa, Son-in-law, Tom Whitney; Four brothers Nicholas, Fritz (Sue) , Matt (Loretta), and Leonard (Mary) Schramer; Two sisters, Barbara (Patrick) Hahn and Catherine "Katie" Schramer and two brothers-in-law, Chuck Schmitt and Maurice Umbdenstock.Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Monday, March 24, 2014, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A mass to celebrate her faith will be at 11 a.m., following visitation from 10-10:45 a.m., at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 5N539 Meredith Rd. Virgil, Tuesday, March 25. Fr. Perfecto Vasquez, pastor of the church, will officiate with interment to follow at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, Virgil, IL. A memorial has been established in her name to benefit Angie’s favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Angela Lexa Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com where you can also find her full life story.