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Obituaries April 7, 2022

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CARMEN NAMBO ALVAREZ

Carmen Nambo Alvarez, 91, passed away March 20.

Will be forever missed by beloved family and friends.

Visitation was held at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer, Chicago. Funeral Mass was held at St Gall Catholic Church, Chicago. Final resting place St Casimir Cemetery, Chicago. To leave any tributes, please visit funeral home website at www.SzykownyFuneralHomeIL.com.

CamposEDUARDO CAMPOS

Eduardo Campos,  29, passed away February 24.

Visitation was held March 3 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held March 4. Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Procopius Church, 1641 S. Allport Street, Chicago for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

ANTHONY M. CROWE

Anthony M. Crowe, lifelong resident of Chicago’s Brighton Park community.

Devoted son of the late Mary (nee Davis) and late Daniel W. Crowe; loving life partner of Melanie Wojtulewicz; dearest brother of the late Carl, late Emmett and late Phillip; fond cousin of Marion Blevins, Philip (Vida) Giddings and Adele (Aldwin) Humphries.

Visitation was held April 1 at Zarzycki Manor Chapels, 5088 S. Archer Ave., Chicago. Funeral Service was held April 2 at the funeral home. Interment St. Mary Cemetery. 

FioreRAYMOND J. FIORE

Raymond J. Fiore, 65, passed away February 28.

Beloved husband of Carol (nee Jacobsen) Fiore; loving father of Kelly (Dan) Burger and Katie (Caleb) Blood; dearest grandpa of Logan, Finley and Jude; cherished son of the late Lyda (nee Cichy) Fiore; dear brother of the late Chris Fiore. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation was held March 4 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held March 4. Service and Time of Remembrance were held at the funeral home. Cremation rites to be accorded.

RODNEY GOWDY 

Rodney Gowdy, 58, of Berwyn, passed February 22 at Amita Health Center in Bolingbrook.

He is survived by his mother, Shirley, siblings Mechelle, Carolyn, James, Oties and Lee; his nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his father, David Hampton.

A Memorial Service was held March 5 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Interment, private Cremation Rites, Justice.

CASIMIR GRESIK

Casimir Gresik, of Palos Heights, passed away March 23.

Beloved husband of Martha (nee Bodnicki); loving father of Thomas (Barbara), Gerald and Alan Gresik; dearest grandfather of Andrew (Michelle) and Julia (Stephen) Roberts and great-grandfather of Natalie Gresik; dearest brother of the late Stanley, Catherine and Edward; dear uncle and friend to many.

Family and friends gathered March 29 for visitation until time of prayers at Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home 11028 Southwest Hwy. Palos Hills, to Sacred Heart Church for Mass. Interment followed at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Palos Lions Club P. O. Box 442 Palos Heights IL 60463.

KalterMARGARET M. KALTER

Margaret M. Kalter (nee Hernandez),  80, of Plainfield, passed away March 26.

Beloved wife of the late Lawrence; loving mother of Valerie Kalter-Rizzi, Tom (Lupe) Kalter and John (Connie) Kalter; cherished grandmother of 7; great grandmother of Cenovio and Lorenzo; fond sister of Irene (Raul) Basurto, Josephine (the late Martin) Sanchez, Robert (Anita) Rios, Leonard (Angela) Rios, Edward (Emily) Rios, and the late Phillip (Karen) Rios. Also survived by many brothers-in-laws, sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation was held April 3 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. in Summit. Visitation was held April 4 at the funeral home until time of Prayers. Mass of Christian Burial at Two Holy Martyrs Parish, St. Symphorosa Church. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to Margaret’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

KlimekBARBARA KLIMEK

Barbara Klimek (nee Przybek), 58, passed away February 25.

Beloved wife of Jan Klimek; loving mother of Anita Klimek and Emilia Klimek; cherished daughter of Maria (nee Woznik) and the late Mieczyslaw Przybek; dear sister of Iwona (Leslaw) Dziedzielowski and Beata (the late Slawomir) Kwapien. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation was held March 4 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held March 5. Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Our Lady Mother of the Church Polish Mission, 116 Hilton Street, Willow Springs for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

LahnerROBERT A. LAHNER

Robert A. Lahner, 80, passed away February 26.

Beloved son of the late Mary (Ostrowski) and Peter Lahner; loving brother to the late Cass (Beverly) Foryes and the late Raymond (Charlene) Lahner; cherished uncle to Ray Lahner, Lisa Covarrubias, Carrie Perez. Dear cousin and friend to many.

Visitation was held March 3 until the time of Funeral Mass at St. Bruno Catholic Church, 4751 S. Harding Ave., Chicago. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

MARYANN M. MATAKIEWICZ

Maryann M. Matakiewicz (nee O’Donnell), 84, of Shorewood, passed away March 25.

Beloved wife of the late Edward P. Matakiewicz Sr.; loving mother of Lawrence and Edward Jr. (Melissa) Matakiewicz; cherished grandmother of Kara, Evan and Paige; dear great-grandmother of Avery, Harper, Sadie and Ian; fond sister of Kathleen O’Donnell and Patricia Considine; aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held March 31 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. in Summit. Visitation was held at the funeral home April 1 until time of celebration of life service. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to Maryann’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

NickolaouEVANS NICKOLAOU

images REPORTER EXTRA ART Am Flag copyEvans Nickolaou, 87, passed away March 21.

He was an Army veteran.

Beloved husband of the late Janet (nee Klas) Nickolaou; loving father of Michael Nickolaou, the late Charles Nickolaou, the late Peter Nickolaou, Maryann (Tom) Kanelos and James Nickolaou; dear grandfather of Evan, Maria, Samantha (Ben) and Amalia; cherished son of the late Sophia (nee Valaskovic) and the late Michael Nickolaou; fond brother of the late Chris (Monica) Nickolaou, James (Shirley) Nickolaou, Marilyn Nickolaou and Elayne (George) Vinci. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 7560 S. Archer Road, Justice, are much appreciated.

Visitation was held March 24 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held March 25, procession from the funeral home to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 7560 S. Archer Road, Justice for Service. Interment, Bethania Cemetery, Justice, Illinois. 

RuzevichPETER V. RUZEVICH

Peter V. Ruzevich, 89, of Chicago.

He was a retired Chicago Police Officer.

Beloved husband of his biddy Marie (nee Burns); loving father of Marie (Anthony) Coglianese, the late John Ruzevich, Peter (Maryann) Ruzevich, Charles (Rachel) Ruzevich, Norine (the late Alan) Johnson, Joseph (Denise) Ruzevich, Thomas (Laura) Ruzevich and Michael (Lisa) Ruzevich; proud grandfather of 15; great grandfather of 4; dear brother of the late Anthony (the late Angeline) Ruzevich and the late Dorothy (the late Richard) Levine; fond brother-in-law of the late Charles (the late Therese) Burns, the late Martin (Patricia) Burns, the late Reverend Joseph Burns, and Sister Norine Burns O.P. Fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Peter was proud of his service to the City of Chicago as a member of the Chicago Police Department for 36 years.

Visitation was held at St. Damian Church, Oak Forest March 5. Mass followed.

Donations to Adrian Dominican Sisters, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, or The CJ Foundation for SIDS are appreciated.

All arrangements and services were provided by John J. Minich Funeral Director.

CHARLES M. RYCZEK 

Charles M. Ryczek, 64, passed away March 5.

Beloved husband of Susan; loving dad of Timmy, Amber (Jeremy) Conboy, Cheryl (Dominic) Alberti, Ali (Sean) Rasley, Bobby, and Hailee; cherished grandfather of eleven grandchildren; dear brother of Linda (Dave) Grabner and Merri (Greg) Fasano.

Visitation was held March 12 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held March 12, service and time of remembrance were held at the funeral home. Interment, Private Cremation Rites, Justice.

ALELI M. SENK

Aleli M. Senk (nee Mazari), 63, passed away March 25.

Beloved wife of Henry Senk; loving mom of Gabby, Abby and Heidi; cherished daughter of Reyna (nee Velasco) and the late Silvano Mazari; dear sister of Fila, Elana, Irela, Sylvia, Norma, Arturo, Hugo and the late Leonil. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, are much appreciated.

Visitation was held March 31 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice, followed by Service and Time of Remembrance at the funeral home. Cremation rites to be accorded. 

VazquezELEAZAR VÁZQUEZ

Eleazar Vázquez, passed away March 17, surrounded by his loving family.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Victoria Rodríguez and Pedro Vázquez Jr.

Eleazar is survived by his wife, Margarita, and six children (and spouses): Leticia Rivera (Alex), Lucia Vázquez, Eleazar Vázquez Jr. (Leonor), Irma Vázquez, Yolanda Pedroza (Jose), Julia Vázquez (Rolando); nine grandchildren: Anabel, Alexander, Anthony, Isela, Sophia, Melissa,
Rolando Jr., Manolo, Benicio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer Ave., Chicago. Funeral Mass was held at St Bruno Church, Chicago. Final resting place Resurrection Cemetery, Justice. To leave any tributes, please visit funeral home website at www.SzykownyFuneralHomeIL.com.

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