Francis S. (Fran) Szott

Francis S. (Fran) Szott, 81, of Peru, passed away on March 10, 2021, at home surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 AM Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in St Valentine Church. The Rev J A Small will officiate. Burial will be at St Hyacinth Cemetery in La Salle. Visitation will be Tuesday from 9:00 -11:30 AM in the Church. Ptak Funeral Home has been assisting the family with the arrangements. Mr. Szott was born on April 10, 1939, in LaSalle, Illinois to Henry and Stella (Witalka) Szott. He was a graduate of LaSalle-Peru Township High School. He married Sheila M Studzinski on June 27, 1959, in St. Patrick Church, LaSalle. He was a member of St Valentine Church, Peru, and the Knights of Columbus. Fran will be remembered as a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Fran, along with his wife, owned and operated Fran Szott’s Carpet and Flooring Outlet in Peru since 2000. Fran got his start in the floor covering business while growing up and working with his father. After initially pursuing a career in interior design at Ray Vogue Art School College of Design, he returned home to work with his father who founded Szott’s Floor & Wallcovering store in 1947, which eventually became Szott’s of Peru, and operated through the mid-1990s. Survivors include his wife, Sheila, daughter, Kathy (Jim) Galassi of Schaumburg, son Gary (Rose) Szott of Naperville, three grandchildren; Allison (Austin) Arndt, Mark Szott, and Jack Szott; two great-granddaughters; Ainsley and Adaline Arndt, sister, Charlotte Kiley of Ottawa, and brother Henry (Nancy) Szott, of St Germain, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St Valentine Church, Peru, or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.ptakfuneralhome.com.