Elizabeth Ann Barnett Lang

Elizabeth Ann Barnett Lang, age 63, of Lanark, IL, passed away Friday, October 29, 2021, in her home with family by her side. A memorial visitation will be held Saturday, November 6, 2021 from 1pm to 3pm at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Lanark. Following the visitation, all are encouraged to join in celebrating her life at Dave’s Place, in Lanark, from 3pm to 7pm.

Liz was born March 1, 1958, in Lyons Township, IL, the daughter of Gene and Ann (Norris) Barnett. She attended Lyons Township High School, then, after her family moved to the Lanark area, graduated from Lanark High School. Liz wasted little time making Lanark her home. She went to work as a graphic artist for the Prairie Advocate newspaper, where she proudly worked for 40 years. She also spent 30+ years as a Lanark Zoning Officer and ran a karaoke business for weddings and parties.

Liz had a deep love and appreciation for music. She was the founder of the Crossroads Blues Society, dedicated to keeping the Blues alive. She was also somewhat of a walking encyclopedia when it came to songs and artists, and would teach herself how to play a variety of different instruments for her own entertainment, and to help grow her understanding and appreciation of music and art.

Most of all though, Liz will be remembered as a loving person. Described as a “social butterfly,” she could make friends with anyone and deeply cared about all those in her community, and was always there for her beloved family. A long-time friend of Liz offered up a few words to help encapsulate her joyful and kind spirit; “She was hilarious and had a photographic memory we’ll all miss. She was so creative and was an empath to so many”.

Liz will be dearly missed by her life partner, Alex DiBiaso, of Lanark; sisters, Amy (Tom Garner) Simmons, of Gold Canyon, AZ and Julie (John) Huggins, of Mesa, AZ; brother-in-law, Tom Kocal, of Laramie, WY; and nieces and nephews, Michael Kocal (Brian Phillips), Sarah (Robert) Hanviryapunt, Andrew Simmons, Brent Simmons (Elanor Smith), Daniel (Breana) Simmons, Matthew Olson, Scott (Karissa) Olson, and Kayla Olson. Liz is preceded in death by her parents, Gene Barnett and Ann Norris Barnett Stulik, and sister, Lynn Barnett Kocal.