Obituaries May 4, 2023
MSGR. MICHAEL J. ADAMS
Msgr. Michael J. Adams, pastor emeritus of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish on 64th Street in Chicago, passed away April 23. He was 90 years old.
Adams was born on April 9, 1933, in Chicago. He attended St. Catherine of Genoa School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.
Adams was ordained to the priesthood on May 7, 1959, by Cardinal Albert Meyer, and celebrated his first Mass on May 10 at St. Catherine of Genoa Parish in Chicago.
Adams served the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago as assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Evanston and at the following parishes in Chicago: St. Margaret of Scotland Parish on S. Throop Street, St. Matthias Parish on Ainslie Street and St. Francis de Paula Parish on Dobson Avenue.
Adams was pastor of St. Gall Parish on 55th Street in Chicago for12 years and he also served as pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish for 11 years. He retired in 2003.
In addition, Adams was chaplain at Amundsen High School and executive secretary to the clergy personnel board.
Rev. Ron Kalas, vicar for senior priests, remembered his classmate as “a very thoughtful man, always ready to do what he was asked to do, and he did that with charm and grace.”
“Mike was a quiet, very dedicated, hardworking, non-flamboyant, faithful and compassionate priest,” said Rev. Ed McLaughlin, retired pastor of St. Michael Parish in Orland Park. “Three times since he retired, he was called to administer parishes because of his competence and compassion.”
Funeral services were held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Chicago. Interment was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip.
LINDA S. BASS
Linda S. Bass, age 73, passed away April 15.
Will be forever missed by loving family and friends.
Visitation was held st Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S Archer, Jonathan F Siedlecki, Owner/Director. Funeral Mass was held at St Mary Star of the Sea, Chicago. Cremation Private. To leave any tributes, please visit the funeral home website at www.SzykownyFuneralHomeIL.com.
CAROL BRYJA
Carol Bryja (nee Onyszko), age 79, of Chicago, Clearing community, passed away April 12, with her loving son by her side.
Wife of the late John Bryja; beloved mother of David (Dolores) Bryja and Thomas (Debra) Bryja; loving grandmother of Victoria, Johnathan, and Tom; dear daughter of the late Leona and George Onyszko; sister of the late Robert (late Audrey) Onyszko; cherished cousin of Jackie (late Raymond) Pokorny, David (late Dorothy) Kulig, Pam (Michael) Colwell, and the late Michael Osucha. She will be remembered fondly by her nephews, nieces, other relatives, and many friends.
Visitation was held April 20 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation at the funeral home April 21 until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to St. Mary Star of the Sea Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Carol was laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery by her family monument. Condolences may be sent to Carol’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
KATARZYNA CZERNIK
Katarzyna Czernik (nee Rydz), of Oak Lawn, formerly of Chicago, Archer Heights community
Beloved mother of Anna (Donat) Czerny and Grzegorz (Zofia) Czernik; loving grandmother of Izabela and Justyna; dearest sister of six; dear companion of Frank.
Funeral mass was held April 15 at Our Lady, Mother of the Church Polish Mission. Visitation was held April 15 at Zarzycki Manor Chapels, Ltd., 8999 South Archer Avenue, Willow Springs. Interment Lodz, Poland. 708-839-8999 or www.ZarzyckiManorChapels.com.
JOHN D. GORNICK
John D. Gornick, age 90, passed away March 10. US Navy Veteran.
Beloved husband of the late Evelyn Gornick; loving father of John (Laurie) Gornick, Mike (Pat) Gornick, Joe (Diane) Gornick, Nick (Cindy) Gornick, Chris Gornick and Marie Gornick; dear grandfather of Beth (Jon) Rachanski, Michael Gornick, Dani (Mike) Hall, Ben Gornick, Greg Gornick, Claire Gornick, Nick (Lauren) Gornick, Nathan Gornick, Jack Gornick, Kate Gornick, Hannah Gornick and Jenna Gornick. Dearest great-grandfather of Beckett Rachanski. Fond brother of Margaret Infurna. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visitation was held March 17 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held March 18, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Daniel the Prophet Church, 5358 S. Nashville Ave., Chicago, for Mass. Cremation rites to be accorded. For more information, 708-496-0200 or www.kaminskifamilyfuneralhomes.com.
FREDERICK W. GROSSKOPF
Frederick W. Grosskopf, age 87, of Brookfield formerly of LaGrange and the South Side of Chicago, passed away April 14.
Beloved husband of Ardythe Grosskopf (nee Thompson); loving father of Kathie (David) Miller-Schapira, Cindy (Ben) Sanchez, Fred (Susan) Grosskopf, Ken (Kirsten) Grosskopf and Steve (Katie) Grosskopf; grandfather of Nathan, Nicole, Erik, Maddie, Mason, Grace, Tyler, Libby and Tommy; brother of Edmund (Margaret) Grosskopf and the late Marie (the late Leonard) Schmit; uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Memorial Visitation will be held Friday, June 9, 2023 from 8:00 a.m to 9:15 a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services 9445 W. 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. at St. Cletus Church, 600 W 55th St, LaGrange, IL 60525. Interment Private Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst. Memorials appreciated to Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 N. 25 E. Chesterton, IN 46304 or St. Cletus Church, 600 W 55th St, La Grange, IL 60525 or DePaul University, 1 E. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604 Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com. For those of you that would like to express your condolences to the family, you can leave the family a message on the funeral home website. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, please feel free to send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513, c/o The Frederick Grosskopf Family. We will gladly forward it on to the family.
RUTH HALISZ
Ruth Halisz, age 62, of Chicago, Clearing community, passed away peacefully April 21, with her family by her side.
Loving mother of Lisa Halisz; devoted Nana of Jonathan and Katelyn Halisz; cherished sister of Lena (William) Brady and Virginia “Ginny” Halisz and the late Frances Halisz. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Virginia Halisz. Wonderful aunt to Michael (Jacqueline) Brady and Brian Brady; dear great aunt to Declan, Kilian, Maura and Clara Brady. Ruth was honored to be considered a special member of the Brady family. She will be missed by her many friends.
Visitation was held April 25 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation at the funeral home April 26 until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to St. Rene Goupil Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to Ruth’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
LUDWIK KOWALCZYK
Ludwik Kowalczyk, age 88, passed away March 10.
Beloved husband of Teofila (nee Szuba) Kowalczyk; loving father of Ann (Jozef) Cikowski and Maria Ciezczak; dear grandfather of Daniel (Kristy) Cikowski, Alicia (Kenny) Wall, Emily (Brian) Otte, Johanna Ciezczak and Thomas (Sarah) Ciezczak; dearest great-grandfather of Kaiden, Kailey, Emma, Crue, Nolan and Theo; cherished son of the late Aniela (nee Gogolak) and the late Jan Kowalczyk; dear brother of Maria Jakubik, Stanislaw Kowalczyk, Stella (John) Miernicki, Kazimierz (Anna) Kowalczyk, the late Antonina Mietus, the late Karol Kowalczyk, the late Jan Kowalczyk, the late Aniela Kowalczyk and the late Andrzej Kowalczyk. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visitation was held March 14 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held March 15, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Albert the Great Church, 8029 S. Central Avenue, Burbank, for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice. For more information, 708-496-0200 or www.kaminskifamilyfuneralhomes.com.
JÓZEF MIKOS
Józef Mikos, age 73, of Chicago, Archer Heights community, passed away after a long and hard illness April 19.
Beloved husband of Bronislawa (nee Pawlikowska); loving father of Krzysztof (Diana) Mikos, Zbigniew (Izabela) Mikos and Ewa (Sebastian) Labuda; dear grandfather of Emily and Aria Mikos, Zuzia, Kacper and Nicholas Labuda; fond brother of Jan (Marcelina), Piotr (Jadwiga), Marian (Ewa) and the late Stanislaw (Zofia) Mikos; uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held April 21, funeral was held April 22 from Zarzycki Manor Chapels, Ltd., 5088 S. Archer Avenue, corner of Keeler to the Church of St. Mary of Czestochowa, Cicero for Mass. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. 773-767-2166.
CHRISTINE LEE NORTON
Christine Lee Norton (nee Grigas), age 71, passed away April 22.
Loving mother of Brian Norton (Robin Whitney), Kerry Cassidy Norton (Alison Cassidy Norton), Erin Norton (Mary Schultz), Edward Norton (Claire Norton) and Katie Norton (Daniel Quinn); doting grandmother of Emilia and Eva Norton, and Laurence Cassidy Norton; former wife of the late Thomas E Norton, CPD; beloved sister of Daniel Grigas (Jean); cherished best friend and partner to Robert Farley.
Visitation was held April 27 at the Kerry Funeral Home & Cremation Care Center, 7020 W. 127th Street, Palos Heights. Family & friends gathered April 28 at Saint Bede the Venerable Church, 8200 S. Kostner Avenue, Chicago for Mass. Interment private. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Christine L. Norton, please visit our flower store. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the National Parks Foundation would be appreciated. https://give.nationalparks.org/ 708-361-4235 ~ www.kerryfh.com ~ www.facebook.com/kerryfuneral.
STANLEY WALTER PASINSKI
Stanley Walter Pasinski, age 85, of Glen Ellyn, formerly of Chicago, passed away April 15 in Downers Grove.
Visitation and service were held April 22 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W Archer Ave, Summit. Reception immediately followed at European Chalet Banquets, 5445 S Harlem Ave, Chicago.
Stanley is survived by his wife of almost 61 years, Lorraine; his daughter, Kimberly (Donald) Tatera; son, Steven (Carrie) Pasinski; his grandchildren: Sarah, Daniel, and Ella; and many loving inlaws, nieces, nephews, family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Angeline (Gil) Pasinski and his brothers: Eugene, Edmond, and Henry.
Condolences may be sent to Stanley’s family on his personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
RUTH C. REGNERUS
Ruth C. Regnerus (nee Kiers), 76, passed away on April 27.
She was the beloved wife for 56 years to Robert D. Regnerus. Loving mother of Bob (Arlene) Regnerus, Christine (Joel) VanEssen and Brian (Carrie) Regnerus. Cherished grandmother of William, Bethany, Anna, Isaac, Makena, Mak, Noa and Kai. Dear sister of Marilee (James) Guthrie, Dean (Debbie) Kiers, Deborah (late Pete) Kowalczyk and the late Mark (Trudy) Kiers and Bucky Kiers. Dear sister-in-law of Elizabeth (Doug Owens and the late George) Denison and the late Ginger (John) Riedas. Fond aunt of 19 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and great-nephews. Loving and caring friend to countless people over her 76 years.
Ruth was a generous and loving soul. Hundreds of family and friends were blessed with cards, texts and gifts over the years and were recipients of her lavish, unconditional love.
After raising her children, she faithfully served her church as a Sunday School teacher and leader.
For nearly 30 years, Ruth helped thousands of clients working for Palos Bank and Trust as well as Palos Wealth Advisors.
Whether cheering on her children and grandchildren, baking, or sharing a meal, Ruth lived a selfless life of joy and gratitude.
To honor her wishes, there will be no wake or funeral. The family will have a Celebration of Life with relatives and invited guests.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Chicago Christian High School, 12001 S. Oak Park Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463 are appreciated.
Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com
ADAM J. SMOLA
Adam J. Smola devoted son of Krystyna (nee Bulaga) and the late Franciszek “Frank” Smola; loving father of Christopher, Timothy and Matthew; dearest brother of Paul (Jennifer) Smola; dear uncle of Abbie, Kristie, Maggie and Emma; fond nephew and cousin to many.
Visitation was held April 30 at Zarzycki Manor Chapels, 8999 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs. Funeral was held May 1 from the funeral home to the Church of St. Faustina Kowalska for Mass. Entombment Resurrection Garden Mausoleum. 708-839-8999 or www.ZarzyckiManorChapels.com.
MICHAEL WAHLER
Michael Wahler, age 90, of Brookfield, passed away April 9.
Beloved husband of Gisela Erika Wahler (nee Beissert); loving father of Gordon (Virginia) Wahler; grandfather of Andrew Wahler, Nathan Wahler and Katherine Pacilli; brother of the late Resi, Anton and Willie.
Visitation was held April 13 and April 14, to Time of Service at Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd., 9445 W. 31st Street, Brookfield. Interment Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park. Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, please feel free to send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513, c/o the Michael Wahler Family. We will gladly forward it on to the family.
XAVIER ZARAGOZA
Xavier Zaragoza, age 64, of Munster, IN, passed away April 11.
Beloved companion of Ana Leon; loving father of the late Maya Zaragoza; dear brother of Jesus (Yasmin) Zaragoza; cherished uncle of Yasmin N., Janessa and Jesus D. (Kelli) Zaragoza; great uncle of Gabriella, Alessandra and Amiliana; dearest loved one to Paulina Leon, Yolanda Leon, Erma Leon, Litzi, Alvin, Edy and Kevin Barrera. Also survived by many family, relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on April 19 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Celebration of Life Service was followed, Deacon Oscar Gonzalez Officiating. Condolences may be sent to Xavier’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
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