Charlyn J. Hetzel

Visitation for Charlyn “Char” J. Hetzel, 89, of Palatine, will be from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy, Palatine. Family and friends will meet directly at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 200 N. Plum Grove Road, Palatine, on Friday, March 27, 2026, where the Visitation will continue from 3:00 PM until the time of the Celebration of Life service at 4:00 PM. The Interment will follow at Union Cemetery, in Palatine.

Char was born on September 3, 1936, in Chicago, to Charles and Evelyn (nee D. Griffith) Smith. Shortly after graduating from Taft High School in 1954, in Chicago, she married her childhood friend and devoted her life to raising her family. They purchased their first home and moved to Palatine in 1964.

Char received her crown of glory on March 17, 2026, surrounded by family. She was the beloved wife of the late Herbert F. Hetzel for 69 years, loving mother of Michael (Cheryl) Hetzel, Karen Bell (John Farrow), Paula (Thomas) Schroeder, Brian (Joan) Hetzel, and Lynne (Jack) O’Toole. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, Wayne G. Smith, her sister-in-law, Dorothy L. Smith and her grandson, Timothy D. Hetzel.

Char loved spending time with her family. Char was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Palatine, for more than 60 years where she served as both a girls’ and boys’ scout leader, as a Sunday School teacher, room parent, a member of the PTL Board, the Funeral Ministry, Altar Guild, and the church’s senior group. Most notably, Char was Immanuel’s ‘Lunch Lady’ for nearly 20 years, where she loved serving lunch to hundreds of children each day.

Her hobbies included reading, playing games with family, knitting and creating hundreds of sleeping mats that were donated to homeless people in Haiti and across the country.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to Immanuel Lutheran School Education Foundation (ILSEF).