January 15, 2010 Southwest News-Herald - City
Stas Bulanda, Of Polka Hall Of Fame, Dies
Stanley “Stas” Bulanda, an Oak Lawn resident who was a member of the International Polka Association Hall of Fame, died Jan. 6 at Christ Hospital. He was 55.
Mr. Bulanda, who entertained across the country and Canada, was inducted into the Hall in August of 2009, shortly after he began to feel ill.
“He made the trip to Ohio to receive the award,” said one of his daughters, Jennifer. “He was a good guy.”
Mr. Bulanda, who died of stomach cancer, was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for having the Best Polka Recording Album.
Composer of his own songs, Mr. Bulanda played several instruments, including the concertina, trumpet, clarinet and bass guitar.
In addition to Jennifer, he is survived by his other children, Erica and Tommy; his wife, Diane (nee Whyte); and mother, Sally.
Other survivors include his brother, John; sister, Sally Gleffe; and nieces and nephews.
Services were Monday from Ridge Funeral Home to St. Daniel the Prophet Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Raymond Myszkowski, Area Firefighter, Dies
Raymond A. Myszkowski, 69, a retired firefighter and engineer with the Bridgeview Fire Department, died last Friday at his Bridgeview home.
Mr. Myszkowski was also a member Sheet Metal Workers Local 73.
He is survived by his wife, Connie (nee Norkevicz); daughters, Debbie Walczak, Jackie Vacala and Linda Tomnitz; son, Mark; six grandchildren; and siblings, Zenon and Maryann Myszkowski.
Services were Monday from Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium to St. Fabian Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Chicago Lawn Pioneer John Pacewic Dies
John E. Pacewic, 77, a 53-year resident of Chicago’s Chicago Lawn neighborhood, died on Tuesday.
Mr. Pacewic, a veteran of the Korean War, was a retired employee of Wm. Wrigley. He also was a longtime owner of Lawn Liquors.
Mr. Pacewic is survived by his wife of 57 years, Eleanor (nee Brown); daughters, Gail Guida and Linda Koch; sons, James, William and John Jr.; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Services are at 8:45 a.m. today (Friday) from Wolniak Funeral Home, 5700 S. Pulaski Road, to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, 3721 W. 62nd St., for 9:30 a.m. Mass. Interment will be at St. Casimir Cemetery.
Lucille Robinson Dies at Age of 101
Former Southwest Sider Lucille “Robbie” Robinson died Dec. 30 at Central DuPage Hospital at the age of 101.
One of Mrs. Robinson’s jobs in her younger years was as a display person at a department store.
Among survivors are her brother, Henry Bartosik; sister, Delores Drust; and godchild, Susan Hope.
Services were Jan. 9 from Richard-Midway Funeral Home to St. Camillus Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Daisy Alfonzo
Daisy Jean Alfonzo, a resident of Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood, died Jan. 6 at Christ Hospital.
Mrs. Alfonzo was a dispatcher for a plumbing company,
She is survived by her mother, Mary L. Fentress; brothers, Douglas Bennett and Tommy Fentress; sisters, Zula Burney, Mary Fentress and Patricia Higgason; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Tuesday at the Richard-Midway Funeral Home. Interment was at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery.
Anna Cimbala
Anna J. Cimbala (nee Majerczyk), 82, a former resident of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, died Jan. 6 in Ohio.
Mrs. Cimbala, a member of the Southtown Club of the Deaf, was a factory laborer.
She is survived by her sons, George and Gary; daughter, Sara Toribio; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Helen O’Donnell; brother, Stan Major; and many nieces and nephews.
Sophie Ciszek
Sophie Ciszek (nee Bachurz), 89, a resident of Chicago’s Archer Heights neighborhood, died Jan. 5 at Hinsdale Hospital.
Mrs. Ciszek, a member of Copernicus Circle Daughters of Isabella, was an accounting clerk for Talman Bank.
Among survivors are her daughter, Patricia Dispensa; son, Robert; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services were Jan. 9 from Szykowny Funeral Home to St. Bruno Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Geraldine Dobesh
Geraldine Y. Dobesh (nee Opon), 74, died Jan. 9 at her Oak Lawn home.
Mrs. Dobesh worked as a secretary.
Among survivors are her daughter, Cyndi Neuman; and brother, Norbert Opon.
Services were Wednesday from Lawn Funeral Home to St. Linus Church. Interment was private.
Emily Hurley
Emily Hurley (nee Venneri), a longtime resident of the West Lawn neighborhood in Chicago, died Jan. 6 at the home of one of her daughters.
Mrs. Hurley, who liked to joke that her age was “39 forever,” was noted for hosting a “St. Joseph’s Table” for her family and friends at Palermo’s Restaurant for the last 28 years.
She also was a member of several organizations, including Daughters of Isabella Council of Catholic Women, the Women’s Auxiliary of Knights of Columbus, and the Jolly Nicks.
She is survived by her son, Tim; daughters, Maribeth McCaw and Noralee Goossens; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brother, John Venneri; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Jan. 9 from Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church. Interment was at St. Mary Cemetery.
Ruth Krause
Ruth M. Krause, 91, died Jan. 9 at her home on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
Mrs. Krause is survived by her daughter, Marlene; son, Richard; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Wednesday from Wolniak Funeral Home to St. Turibius Church. Interment was at St. Mary Cemetery.
Paul Lysik
Paul B. Lysik, 87, died Jan. 6 at his Burbank home.
Mr. Lysik was a bank officer. A member of the VFW, he was both in the Army (World War II) and Navy (Korea).
Mr. Lysik is survived by his sons, David, Timothy and Tom; one granddaughter, brother, Frank; and sister, Frieda.
Services were Monday from Lawn Funeral Home to St. Albert the Great Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
James Miller Sr.
James M. Miller Sr., 68, a resident of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, died Jan. 10 at Hinsdale Hospital.
Mr. Miller, a veteran of the Army, was a retired chief cartographer for Chicago’s Department of Planning, where he worked for 39 1/2 years.
He is survived by his wife, Suzanne (nee Turke); sons, Anthony, Mark, Matthew and David; daughters, Suzanne Bitunjac and Rozanne Orr; eight grandchildren; one stepgranddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.
Services were yesterday (Thursday) from Modell Funeral Home to St. Daniel the Prophet Church. Interment was at St. Mary Cemetery.
Rose Nauheimer
Rose A. Nauheimer (nee Zima), 86, a resident of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, died Jan. 9 at Lutheran Home.
Mrs. Nauheimer was a retail sales worker.
She is survived by her sons, James and Donald; two grandsons; and brother, Frank Winters.
Services were Tuesday from Foran Funeral Home to St. Symphorosa Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
John Pepper
John J. Pepper, 52, a former Southwest Side resident, died Dec. 23 in Wisconsin.
Mr. Pepper was a window maker.
Among survivors are his wife, Marilyn (nee McMaster); sons, Thomas and Michael; two grandchildren; brothers, Tom, Bob and Jim; and sisters, Patty Honkisz, Peggy, and Jane Baffes.
A Memorial Service was held Jan. 9 at Parkside Chapels & Cremation Services. Interment was private.
Stanley Piekarczyk
Stanley Piekarczyk, 93, died Jan. 10 at his home on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
Mr. Piekarczyk was a factory worker for Nabisco.
Among survivors are his wife, Emilia (nee Pierzynska).
Services were Wednesday from Szykowny Funeral Home (Jonathan F. Siedlecki, Director) to St. Bruno Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Janina Sieradzka
Janine Sieradzka (nee Boryka), 90, died Jan. 10 at her home in Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood.
Mrs. Sieradzka, a homemaker, is survived by her son, Jan Sieradzki; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services are at 9 a.m. today (Friday) from Zarzycki Manor Chapels, 5088 S. Archer Ave., to St. Daniel the ;Prophet Church, 5330 S. Nashville Ave., for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment will be in Skorczow, Poland.
Stacey Valkenburg
Stacey M. Valkenburg, 24, an Oak Lawn resident, died Jan. 7 at University of Chicago Hospital.
Ms. Valkenburg, a student, is survived by her parents, David and Betty Valkenburg; sister, Allyson O’Brien; grandparents, Agnes Valkenburg, and Fred Heinrich; and great-grandparent, Margaret Pisarczyk.
Services were Wednesday from Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home to St. Bede the Venerable Church.
Agnes Walla
Agnes L. Walla (nee Smerchek), 91, died Jan. 7 at her home in Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood.
Mrs. Walla is survived by her son, Robert; daughter, Debbie Radnoti; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Services were Tuesday from Wolniak Funeral Home to St. Mary Star of the Sea Church. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery.
Bruce Wojak
Bruce J. Wojak, 57, a resident of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, died Jan. 5 at the office of the Cook County Medical Examiner.
Mr. Wojak was an employee of Rush Medical who was a member of Pipefitters Union Local 597.
Among survivors are his sons, Dusten and Brandon; daughters, Tina, Terri and Vanessa; brother, Brian Wojak; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were Jan. 9 at Foran Funeral Home. Cremation was private.