GENARO ANDRADE

Genaro Andrade, 71, passed away January 2.

Arrangements and visitation were held at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer Ave., Chicago. Funeral Mass was held at Immaculate Conception Church, Chicago. Final resting place St Mary’s Cemetery, Evergreen Park. To leave any tributes, please visit funeral home website at www.SzykownyFuneralHomeIL.com.

MYRNA J. BELFIORE

Myrna J. Belfiore, 85, of Chicago’s Brighton Park community, passed away peacefully at home January 12.

She was the beloved mother of Deborah (Ben) Shaub, late Frank (Mary Lou) Belfiore, the late Rita (Charles) DeJesus, Salvatore (Angela) Belfiore and Michael Belfiore; cherished grandmother of Michael DeJesus, Jillian (Reginald) Spratt, Brian DeJesus, Timothy Stipp, Vincenzo (Francesca) Belfiore, Thomas (Stephanie) Stipp, Tonia (Mike) Panzarino and Alexis Belfiore; great grandmother of many; dear sister of Lucine Butcha (Rick Kajmowicz) and the late Vincent Byers.

Memorial visitation in celebration of Myrna’s life was held January 18 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. in Summit. Condolences may be sent to Myrna’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

JOAN M. BUNKOWSKI

Joan M. Bunkowski (nee Palider), 88, passed away January 16.

Beloved wife of the late Edward C. Bunkowski; loving mother of the late Catherine (Robert) Cartwright, Christine Regalado and Edward (Lisa) Bunkowski; dear grandmother of Theresa (Kenny), Gary Jr. (Michelle), James, Gregory (Tracy), Robert Jr., Tracy, Carl (Jenny), Brandon and Brian. Dear great grandmother of many, great great grandmother of one. Dear sister of Ronald (Dawn) Spychalski, Shirley (late Bill) Smith and Marian Beck.  Fond aunt of many.

She was the former owner of Bunky’s Inn Tavern in Brighton Park.

Visitation was held January 20. Funeral was held January 21 at the Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 Archer Ave., Chicago, to St. Daniel the Prophet Church for mass.  Interment Resurrection Cemetery.

JEAN “JANINA” CIKOWSKI

Jean “Janina” Cikowski (nee Skowronski), 61, passed away December 28.

Beloved wife of John “Jan” Cikowski for 33 years; dearest mother of Michael Cikowski and Peter Cikowski; cherished daughter of the late Jadwiga (nee Laniewska) and the late Jan Skowronski; loving sister of Wieslaw Skowronski, Jadwiga Skowronska, Bozena Jozwiak, Krzysztof Skowronski and the late Zdzislaw Dariusz Skowronski. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation was held January 2 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 3 at Sacred Heart Church, 8245 W. 111th Street, Palos Hills for Mass. Interment, Saint Adalbert Cemetery, Niles. For more information, visit  www.kaminskifamilyfuneralhomes.com.

ARTURO NARVAEZ GONZALEZ

Arturo Narvaez Gonzalez, 71, of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge community, passed away January 17.

He was the beloved father of Arturo Narvaez Garcia Jr. (Laura Leticia Campos Rostro), Marilu Narvaez Garcia (Jose Juan Pineda) and Rosalia Narvaez Garcia (Eric Hernandez Larios); husband of Graciela Garcia Villalpando; dear grandfather and great grandfather of many. Arturo will be missed by his many brothers and sisters in Mexico.

All arrangements were private, and Arturo will be buried in Mexico at a later date. Condolences may be sent to Arturo’s family on his personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

ROBERT A. HELEBRANDT

Robert A. Helebrandt, 92, of Stickney, formerly of North Riverside, passed away January 7.

He was the beloved husband of Doris Helebrandt (nee Kasper), loving father of Susan (Martin) Retzer, and Kay Nelson, cherished grandfather of Robert (Christine) Retzer, Michael (Elizabeth) Retzer, Adam Nelson and Amy Nelson, great grandfather of Megan Retzer and Abigail Retzer, dear brother of the late Vlasta Svoboda and fond uncle of Linda (James) Malone, Robert (Phyllis) Svoboda, Nancy (James) Berard.

Army Korean War veteran. Proud recipient of the Army Occupation Medal (Japan), Bronze Star Medal, Korean Service Medal with 5 Bronze (C) Stars, Distinguished Unit Emblem, Presidential Unit Citation (ROK), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Medal.

Robert was a member of the American Legion Stickney Post 687 and Carpenters Local Union 1889.

Memorial donations to the Salvation Army would be appreciated.

Visitation was held January 13 at Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, 2447 S. DesPlaines Ave, North Riverside. Interment with Military Honors at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park.

CLOTILDE INSALATO

Clotilde Insalato (nee Conroy), 86, of Camden, Michigan, formerly of Chicago, passed away peacefully January 15 with her loving family by her side.

She was the beloved wife of Frank Insalato; cherished mother of Kevin (Renata) Insalato and Kimberly (late Kevin) Feret; loving grandmother of Keith (Jackie) Herrera and Kyle Feret; great grandmother of Ariana, Henry, Christian and Cameron.

Visitation was held January 19 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. in Summit. Visitation was held January 20 at St. Daniel the Prophet Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. A second visitation was held January 21 with a celebration of life service at VanHorn-Eagle Funeral Home, 40 S. Manning Street, Hillsdale, MI. 49242. Clotilde was buried at Osborne Cemetery in Camden, following the Service.

Condolences may be sent to Clotilde’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

ZYGMUNT JURASZAK

Zygmunt Juraszak, 76, passed away December 19.

Arrangements were held at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer Ave., Chicago. Final resting place Resurrection Cemetery, Justice. To leave any tributes, please visit the funeral home website at www.SzykownyFuneralHomeIl.com.

LEONTYNA KRAMARCZYK

Leontyna Kramarczyk, 100, of Cave Creek, Arizona, formerly of Chicago, passed away Janauary 10.

Beloved wife of the late John Kramarczyk; loving mother of Edward (Mary) and the late Casimir Kramarczyk; dear grandmother of David (Pamela), Diana, Sheri and Michael; great grandmother of Michael and Damen; Leontyna is predeceased by her brothers and sisters; aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held January 24 at Zarzycki Manor Chapels, 8899 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs. Funeral was held January 24 from the funeral home to St. Faustina Church for Mass. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.

JAMES J. NOTTKE

James J. Nottke, 84, of Bridgeview, passed away on January 19.

He was the beloved husband of the late Carol (nee Andrews); loving father of Cindy and Jim Weaver, Vicki and Archie Stempak and the late James Nottke; dearest grandfather of Jimmy, Dan, Lauren, Heather, Archie Jr., Matthew, Jimmy (Jen) and Ashley; great grandfather of many; fond brother of Jackie, Patricia and Bill. James was preceded in death by his other siblings, Joanne, Charles, Bobbie and Jean. James will be missed by his many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation was held January 23 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. in Summit. Visitation was held January 24 at the funeral home until time of Celebration of Life Service. Procession from the funeral home to St. Casimir Cemetery where James was laid to rest next to his dear wife. Condolences may be sent to James’ family on his personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

MARIA CONCEPCION RAMOS ORDUNO

Maria Concepcion Ramos Orduno, 76, passed away December 28.

Beloved wife of Victor Antillon Reyes; loving mother of Claudia (Bolivar) Garcia and Victor Antillon; dearest grandmother of Emanuel, Giovanni, Isai, Daniela, Luis and Rio; cherished daughter of the late Maria de Los Angeles Orduno Rubio and the late Jose Santos Ramos Saldana; dear sister of Ruben Ramos, Javier Ramos and Isabel Ramos. Also survived by relatives and friends.

Visitation was held January 2 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Cremation rites to be accorded.

MARIA RODRIGUEZ

Maria Rodriguez, 74, of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge community, passed away January 12 surrounded by her loving family

She was the beloved wife of J. Pueblito Rodriquez; cherished mother of the late Patricia Villagomez, Francisco Rodriguez, Maria (Cesar) Molina, Lalo Rodriguez, Hector (Michelle) Rodriguez, Angelica (Ricardo) Bedolla and Luz (Ezeqviel) Manzo; loving grandmother of Jacob, Jiovang, Belen, Elizabeth, Chavita, Miguelito, Paquito, Lisette, Christopher, Joshua, Lalito, Aiko, Jessie and Aileen; great grandmother of Martha Elena, Jonathan, Thiago and Oliver; dear sister of Marcelino (Oliva) Soto and Filomena (Ruben) Leon.

Visitation was held January 20 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. in Summit. Visitation was held January 21 at the funeral home until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to Immaculate Conception Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Maria was laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to Maria’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

PIOTR SZLEMBARSKI

Piotr Szlembarski, 48, passed away January 9.

Arrangements and visitation were held at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer Ave.  Chicago.  Funeral Mass was held at Five Holy Martyrs Church, Chicago. Final resting place Resurrection Cemetery, Justice. To leave any tributes, please visit the funeral home website at www.SzykownyFuneralHomeIL.com.

ARCHDIOCESAN PRIEST, REV. CHARLES W. WATKINS

Rev. Charles W. Watkins, former pastor of St. Columba Parish in Chicago’s Hegewisch neighborhood, passed away Jan. 27. He was 78 years old.

Fr. Watkins was born on Oct. 1, 1944, in Florence, Alabama. He attended Coffee High School and the University of North Alabama, both in Florence, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

Before entering seminary, Fr. Watkins spent about 26 years working in health care. In the early 1980s, he was coordinator of the cardiac surgery section and a research clinician at the University of Chicago.

Fr. Watkins was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 58 on May 24, 2003, by Cardinal Francis George, and celebrated his first Mass on May 25 at Our Lady of the Ridge in Chicago Ridge.

Fr. Watkins served the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago as associate pastor at Our Lady of the Ridge Parish and St. Cletus Parish in La Grange. He became pastor of St. Columba Parish in 2012, where he served until retirement in 2020. Fr. Watkins was also chaplain of the Circus and Traveling Show Apostolate and served as Dean of Vicariate IV-C.

A 2014 Chicago Catholic newspaper article about Fr. Watkins, “Mass in the Big Top and other unusual places,” ends with his quote: “There are always doors and windows of grace open to you. I’ve considered myself an extremely fortunate person because I’ve been blessed to be able to do the things I thought were important to me.”

Rev. Michael Novick, ordination class of 2001 and associate pastor of St. Cletus Parish, was a close friend of Fr. Watkins since their years in seminary.

“He became part of my family here in Chicago since his was in Alabama,” Novick said. “Through his life, everything he did was for the good of others, always focused on other people. He never did anything to bring attention to himself.”

Novick added that his friend touched a lot of lives with his caring, compassionate and healing nature.

A funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 1 at St. Cletus Church, 600 W. 55th Street in LaGrange, and will be livestreamed on the YouTube page of St. Cletus Parish.

Bishop Joseph Perry will be the main celebrant and Novick will be the homilist of the funeral Mass. Interment will take place in Alabama.

FRANCISZEK WOJENSKI

Franciszek Wojenski, 70, passed away December 25.

Lovingly survived by his family and friends in Poland and the United States.

Visitation was held January 3 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 4. Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Our Lady Mother of the Church Polish Mission, 116 Hilton Street, Willow Springs for Mass. Interment, Cmentarz Parafialny, Czarna Gora, Poland. For more information, visit www.kaminskifamilyfuneralhomes.com.

LETICIA ZARAGOZA

Leticia Zaragoza, 45, passed away January 9.

She was a Marine Corps veteran.

Devoted daughter of Beatrice and Xavier Zaragoza, Sr.; loving sister of Anthony (Diane) Garcia, Xavier Zaragoza, Jr., Robert (Monica) Zaragoza and David (Melissa) Zaragoza; dearly loved by her aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Visitation was held January 22 at Zarzycki Manor Chapels, 8899 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs. Funeral was held January 23 from the funeral home to Sacred Heart Church for Mass. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.