Garfield Ridge Man Francis Burns, Ret. CFD, Dies
Francis “Pat” R. Burns, 70, a retired member of the Chicago Fire Department, died April 29 at Manor Care in Hinsdale.
Mr. Burns was also in the Marine Corps from 1956 to ’62.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores “Mike” (nee Walowski); daughters, Colleen Pierce, Denise Kenyon, Lorena Miller and Carol Burns; son, Patrick Burns; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, William Burns Jr.; sister, Carol Pece; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Saturday from Ridge Funeral Home to St. Daniel the Prophet Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Helen Nemec, Local Pioneer, Dies at 89
Helen B. Nemec (nee Pieszak), 89, a Gage Park resident for more than 65 years, died Sunday at her home.
Mrs. Nemec was a retired employee of Miniceno’s Certified grocery store, formerly located at 54th Street and Kedzie Avenue.
She was a retired member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, a St, Gall parishioner for 65 years and member of the Women’s Guild, and a member of the Daughters of America and the Polish National Alliance, serving as secretary at one time.
Survivors include her sons, Joseph and Frank Nemec; daughter, Camille Haase; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Ann Pond; and two nieces and a nephew.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. today (Friday), followed by Mass at St. Gall Church, 5511 S. Sawyer Ave. (Arrangements by Becvar & Son Funeral Home). Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery.
Joseph DeCaro
Joseph N. DeCaro, 84, died Sunday at his Scottsdale home.
Mr. DeCaro, a World War II Army veteran, was a route salesman.
He is survived by his wife, Raffaella (nee Ottaviano); sons, Nick and Vince; sisters, Phyllis Daume and Carmella Koss; and two grandchildren.
Services were Wednesday from Lawn Funeral Home to St. Bede the Venerable Church. Interment was at Good Shepherd Cemetery.
Paula Dragoiu
Paula Schroeer-Dragoiu, 55, died Sunday at her Archer Heights home.
Mrs. Dragoiu was a business office manager with Philip Reinisch Company.
She is survived by her husband, Alexandru Dragoiu; sisters, Barbara Schroeer, Laura Diehl, Marta Budweiser and Jana Schroeer; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Wednesday from Zarzycki Manor Chapels. Interment was at Evergreen Cemetery.
Jan Grich
Jan Grich, 22, a former Southwest Side resident, died Monday.
Mr. Grich was a siding installer in the construction business.
He is survived by his parents, Maria (nee Oprendekova) and Ondrej Grich; brothers, Andrej, Michal and Robert; and sisters, Libusia Stolar and Zuzanna Halcin.
Services were Wednesday at Zarzycki Manor Chapels. Interment will be held at St. Mikulasa Cemetery in Lendak, Slovak Republic.
Joni Kampfert
Joni F. Kampfert (nee Base), 54, a former Garfield Ridge resident, died Sunday in Lyons.
Mrs. Kampfert was a manager in retail.
She is survived by her husband, Michael; son, Michael; sisters, Joyce Lyskawa, Janice Michaels, Phyllis Willis and Gene Hoskin; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Thursday from Ridge Funeral Home to St. Daniel the Prophet Church. Interment was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Dorothy Lech
Dorothy T. Lech (nee Frankowski), 75, a former Archer Heights resident, died Sunday in Hazel Crest.
Mrs. Lee, who worked at Bagcraft, was a member of the Women’s Chapter 110 Loyal Order of the Moose.
She is survived by her husband, Delmus; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Wednesday from Szykowny Funeral Home to St. Bruno Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Walter Mystek
Walter P. Mystek Jr., 57, a Garfield Ridge resident, died Monday at Mercy Hospital.
Mr. Mystek was employed as an office worker at a transport business. He was the vice president of the Jolly Joe’s Rod and Gun Club.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra (nee Stich); daughter, Susan Parmigiani; sons, Steven and Scott; sisters, Patricia Major, Loretta Wasinski and Margareta Odehnal; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Services are at 9:45 a.m. today (Friday) from Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 S. Archer Ave., to St. Camillus Church, 5426 S. Lockwood Ave., for 10:30 a.m. Mass. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Dolores Palusis
Dolores T. Palusis (nee Abramowicz), 77, a Garfield Ridge resident, died April 29 at Holy Cross Hospital.
Mrs. Palusis was a retired legal secretary. She was a member of St. Camillus Golden Agers and the Ladies Auxiliary of Rhine VFW Post 2729.
She is survived by her husband, Edward; daughters, Karen Devin, Susan Castro, Patricia Shepard and Maria Bradley; son, Mark Palusis; six grandchildren; sister, Virginia Wojcik; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Saturday from the Richard-Midway Funeral Home to St. Camillus Church. Interment was at St. Casimir Cemetery.
Adeline Piwowarczyk
Adeline Piwowarczyk (nee Wijas), 89, a Garfield Ridge resident, died May 1 at her home.
Mrs. Piwowarczyk, a homemaker, was a member of PNA Delegates Council 39/Lodge 1689, the Southwest Organ Club, and St. Joseph Alumni Class of 1932.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Steven; sons, Raymond and Steven J.; daughter, Sandra Prochot; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Monday from Ridge Funeral Home to St. Symphorosa Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Peter Polites
Peter E. Polites, 79, a former West Lawn resident, died Saturday in Hinsdale.
Mr. Polites was a maps draftsman for a gas company. He was also a wake duty attendant for the Ridge Funeral Home, 6620 W. Archer Ave.
Mr. Polites, an Army veteran, was a member of the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Holy Name Society, St. Symphorosa Super Club and Peoples Gas American Legion Post 336.
He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie (nee Podorsky); daughters, Jacqueline Sabian, JoAnn Wolniak and MaryLou McGrath; brother, Ted; sister, Catherine Marquez; and six grandchildren.
Services were Thursday at the Ridge Funeral Home. Entombment was at Resurrection Cemetery in the Pope John Paul Mausoleum.
Helen Schmidt
Helen F. McDonough-Schmidt (nee Campbell), 88, died April 19 at her Central Stickney home.
Mrs. McDonough-Schmidt was a homemaker.
She is survived by her sons, Dennis and James McDonough; daughter, Patricia Rinchich; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held from 9 a.m. until a noon prayer service on Saturday, May 10 at Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 S. Archer Ave.
Elzbieta Slowiak
Elzbieta Slowiak, 76, a former Archer Heights resident, died recently at her Hickory Hills home.
Mrs. Slowiak, a janitor, was a member of the Navy Club Morskie OKO.
She is survived by her daughters, Stefania Lakomy and Wanda Markowska; son, Zdzislaw Bryja; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Services are at 9:45 a.m. today (Friday) from Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer Ave., to St. Joseph Church, 48th and Hermitage, for 10:30 a.m. Mass. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery.
Mary Vilcek
Mary C. “Connie” Vilcek (nee Conrad), 89, a longtime Chicago Lawn resident, died May 1 at Christ Hospital.
Mrs. Vilcek was a retired factory worker in the communications field.
Survivors include her sisters, Anna Piarowski and Elsie Conrad; and a niece and nephew.
Services were Tuesday from the Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church. Entombment was at St. Mary Mausoleum.