SPARTA – Lara Paige Bertetto, 39, of Carbondale and formerly of Sparta, passed away at 5:25 PM, Sunday, April 23, 2017, at the Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Lara was born on June 4, 1977, in Sparta, the daughter of Randy and Nancy (Phillips) Bertetto. She attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale where she graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Latin and Classical Literature, she then went on to graduate school and graduated with her Master's Degree in 2002 from SIUC in English. Lara worked at the Southern Illinois Surgical Appliance Company, in Carbondale. She had a big interest in the Jackson County Humane Shelter, and she really loved her 2 dogs and her 2 cats. Lara was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta.

Lara is survived by her mother; Nancy Bertetto (Steve Jackson), of Sparta, father; Randy Bertetto, of Sparta, maternal grandmother; Meldene Phillips, of Sparta, paternal grandmother; Herriett Bertetto, of Canton, Illinois, aunt; Amy (Lyle) Aitken, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, uncle; Joe (Joanne) Bertetto, Jr., of Joliet, Illinois, 3 step-brothers; Bo Jackson, of Marissa, Dru Jackson, of Marissa, and Jake Jackson, of Mascoutah, Illinois, she is also survived by 5 cousins; Chris Bertetto, John Bertetto, Michael Bertetto, Neely Smith, and Ashley Martin, and a lifelong friend; Lacey Sullivan Gardner, of Sparta.

Lara is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather; Thomas W. Phillips, Jr. and paternal grandfather; Joe Bertetto, Sr.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, April 29, 2017, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Sparta, with Rev. Larry Barnett officiating and burial will follow at the Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta. Visitation will be held on Friday evening at the church where friends may call from 4 to 8 PM, and then on Saturday from 9 to 11 AM. Memorials may be made to the County Humane Society. Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville is entrusted with the arrangements.