Cheryl "Cheri" Ann Buziak Obituary (1947 - 2023)

Cheryl "Cheri" Ann (Carrette) Buziak was born June 18, 1947, in Grosse Point, Michigan. She passed away on December 2, 2023, in Springfield, Illinois with her daughters by her side after a long, hard-fought decline in her health. Remarkably, just hours earlier, Cheri's first great grandbaby was born in the very same hospital, just five floors above. From an early age, Cheri had an adventurous, independent spirit. She rode motorcycles with her first husband, Julian Kidd, with whom she fathered her three daughters. Cheri eventually found her second love, Joseph Buziak. Together, they moved their little family 'to the country' and shared a great many outdoor passions, including a small country farm with horses, rabbits, dogs, chickens, ducks, and goats. They were 4-H Leaders for years. She loved fishing, horseback riding, taking her daughters to horse shows, rabbit shows, and even showing her own dog - and generally taking care of the many critters. All the while, Cheri worked tirelessly at tough jobs like waitressing, bartending, retail, and factory work to give her family everything that they needed, and it was her strength, love, dedication, and perseverance that has shown through the most. Later on, once the outdoor activities were a struggle, Cheri spent more of her time sewing, quilting, knitting, diamond dotting, and searching for and trying new recipes to express her love to her family. Cheri is survived by her daughters Kathleen (Kidd, Pusz) Taylor, Kimberly (Kidd, Hoppe) Riggins, and Tina (Kidd) Morse; and her grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Leonard (Barb) Carrette, Catherine (Bob) Carrette, William Carrette, and John Carrette; and her many nieces and nephews. In typical fashion, there are no formal services planned for Cheryl, certainly no "big fuss". Celebrations of life will be occurring over the next year and beyond as family and friends gather and remember her with great fond good humor and warm comfort food. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.