Former Fairview Heights alderwoman Lydia Cruez dies

Lydia Cruez, a former long-standing member of the Fairview Heights City Council, died Friday after a bout with cancer. She was 78.

Cruez served 26 consecutive years as an alderwoman, from 1981 to 2007. Her daughter, Lori Cruez, said her mother dedicated herself to the constituents who elected her and never let anyone influence her stance on any issue. She said her mother always abided by the will of the people.

“She was involved in so many things and she helped so many people over the years,” Cruez said. “It didn’t matter if people wanted her to vote a certain way. She said, ‘no,’ she was here for the people.”

Ward 1 Alderman Dennis Baricevic, who was elected to the City Council in 1986, said Cruez was very dedicated to city residents.

“She really, really cared about the residents,” Baricevic said. “If she felt that she wasn’t sure about her vote, she would always side with what the residents were campaigning for. She was very dedicated to the people of Fairview. She was a very intelligent and she was very strong in her arguments. She could sway you if she felt she had to.”

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Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday at Kassly Mortuary in Fairview Heights. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights.

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Former Fairview Heights alderwoman Lydia Cruez dies."