Rosella J. "Sally" Schwalb, nee Wessel, 89, of Belleville, IL, born March 22, 1918, in Millstadt, IL, died Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Belleville, IL.

Mrs. Schwalb retired from St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Belleville, IL. She was a member of St. Mary?s Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William J. Schwalb, whom she married in 1941 and who died October 10, 1953; her parents, Peter and Louise, nee Seibert, Wessel; three sisters, Margaret Pfeifer, Annabel Martini, and Evelyn Buffa; and a brother, Cletus Wessel.

She is survived by three children, William J. (Sandra) Schwalb of Belleville, IL;

and twin daughters, Jane (Richard) Friederich of Swansea, IL,

and Joan (Jon) Dahm of Belleville, IL;

two sisters, Adelaide Southoff of Belleville, IL,

and Marian Galati of Belleville, IL;

six grandchildren;

eight great-grandchildren;

and nieces and nephews.

How could we write a tribute to our Mother? To do a worthy job would require enough words of praise to fill a Sunday paper. Maybe an unabridged dictionary full of words of praise wouldn't say it all. The words "Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother" and all the positive images these words imply would need to be in bold capital letters for our Mom. On further thought, maybe a tribute to our Mom could be expressed in one word - LOVE - her love for God and family and our love for her forever. May our Mother's simple words of advice in her dying vigil echo to every ear and heart on earth - "be good to each other."

We would also like to pass along our sincere thanks to the following for their efforts in loving care for our Mom: St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Heartland Hospice, Charles Gardens Retirement Home, MarKa Nursing Home, Rosewood Care Center, St. Louis University Hospital, Columbia Care Center, and the Renner family.

Funeral procession will leave at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2007, from George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, for a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with the Rev. John Myler officiating.

Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, Freeburg, IL.