Obituaries June 29, 2023
KAREN M. DODARO
Karen M. Dodaro (nee Nowaczyk), age 64, passed away June 2.
Beloved daughter of Grace Nowaczyk (nee Moch) and the late Jerome Nowaczyk; loving sister of Janet (Jerry) Schultz, David Nowaczyk and Amy Calkins; dear aunt of Brian (Alicja), Alexander, Jeremy (Jenifer), Steven, Jennifer, Kimberly, Emma, Audrey and Martin; great aunt of Porter, Rome, Jacob and Henry; beloved companion to Joseph LaFranzo for 20 years; beloved pet owner of Otis, Skittles and Amber.
Visitation was held June 6. Funeral was held June 7 from the Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 Archer Ave. (corner of Lorel) to St. Faustina Kowalska Church for mass. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. For more information, please call 773-767-1840 or www.richardmidwayfh@hotmail.com.
HELEN M. DONOVAN
Helen M. Donovan (nee Gondert), age 94, of Lemont, formerly of Chicago, Ravenswood community, passed away peacefully May 30.
Beloved wife of the late John E. Donovan; loving mother of Susan (Dave) Larson, Cynthia (Wayne) Layer, Raymond (Suzanne) Donovan and John (Clara) Donovan; dearest grandmother of Greg (fiancée Melanie Pakonen) and Kevin Larson, Matthew, Jennifer and Travis Layer and Elijah Donovan; devoted daughter of the late Rose (nee Finnegan) and late Frank Gondert; dear friend of many.
Visitation was held June 11 at Zarzycki Manor Chapels, 8999 S. Archer Ave., Willow Springs, a Celebration of Life Service followed. Entombment was held June 12 at Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery, Oakbrook Terrace.
CHARLENE M. DRYAN
Charlene M. Dryan (nee Pream), 84, of Oak Lawn, passed away on June 24.
She was the loving wife of Daniel J. Dryan. Beloved mother of Peter (Jeannie) Dryan and Diane Farr. Cherished grandmother of 5 and great-grandmother of 2. Dear and devoted friend of many.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 29, from 4-8 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, June 30, at 10 a.m. at the Becvar & Son Funeral Home, 5539 W. 127th Street, Crestwood. Interment Resurrection Cemetery in Justice.
For more information, call 708-824-9000 or visit www.becvarfuneralhome.com
ALLAN J. FAIL
Allan J. Fail, age 86, passed away June 4. U.S. Army Veteran.
Beloved husband of 38 years to Rita J. (nee Wojan); loving father of James (Kim) Fiala; dear stepfather of Connie Kulevich, James (Esparanza) Kulevich and Alan Kulevich; dear grandfather and great grandfather of many.
Visitation was held June 12 until the time of funeral prayer service at the Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 Archer Ave. (corner of Lorel). Committal service with military honors at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. For more information, please call 773-767-1840 or www.richardmidwayfh@hotmail.com.
MATTIE GIL
Matilde “Mattie” Gil, age 54, of Chicago, Brighton Park community, passed away June 16.
Beloved daughter of Matilde and the late Roger Gil Sr.; loving sister to Connie (Ramon) Leon, Roger Gil Jr., the late Gloria Leticia Gil, Frank (Margarita) Gil, Marcela (Mickey) Lomeli, and Hector (Nicole) Gil; aunt to Ivan (Jayden, Bella, Ava, and Janell), Erica, Karina, Claudia, David, Athena (Kaylee, Vayda), Matthew, Nicolas, Cristian, Michael, Steven, Jennifer, Hector Jr., Athena, and Bella, and her dear and lifelong friend Dolores.
A visitation to honor Mattie’s life was held June 2 at Foran Funeral Home, located at 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Another visitation took place June 3 at the funeral home until the time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to Immaculate Conception Church for a memorial Mass. Condolences may be sent to Mattie’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
NANCY LEE GOC
Nancy Lee Goc (nee Hemak), age 71, longtime resident of the Scottsdale community, passed away June 16.
Mrs. Goc was a longtime secretary at St. Bede Parish before retiring several years ago. Friends said she was well liked in a series of Facebook posts listed in tribute.
She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Goc (CFD); daughter, Andrea McCarthy; niece, Jeanine Solinski; granddaughters, Kaylin, Abbie and Jenna McCarthy; and grandsons, Scott McCarthy and Mason and Emmett Goc.
A memorial visitation will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, July 28 at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 8200 S. Kostner Ave. A Mass will follow at the church at 10 a.m.
AMPARO JONES
Amparo Jones (nee Basurto), passed away peacefully at home June 13.
Beloved wife of the late Raymond Jones; loving mother of Jose Jones, Beatrice (Richard) Wroblewski, Ramon Jones and Roberto Jones; cherished grandmother of Joey, Jennifer, Matthew, Khriston, Ramon III, Sonia and Alexis; proud great-grandmother of 10.
Visitation was held June 18 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation was held June 19 until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to St. Agnes of Bohemia Church for Mass. Entombment Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
CHARLES A. “CHARLIE” LAKE
Charles A. “Charlie” Lake, age 101, passed away June 14. Proud Army Veteran of World War II.
Beloved husband of the late Mary (nee Regalmuto); loving father of Charles Jr.(Margaret) Lake, Louise (Leland) Sellars and Marie (Lillian) Lake; cherished grandfather of 7 and great Grandfather of 13; dear brother of John (Jean) Lake and uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held June 22 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave, (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation was held June 23 until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to St. Fabian Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Charlie was given Military Honors and laid to rest next to his beloved wife at St. Mary Cemetery. Please omit flowers and honor Charlie with a donation to Disabled Veterans, dav.org.
BONNIE SUE LOPEZ
Bonnie Sue Lopez passed away June 13.
Beloved wife of Felipe Dominguez; cherished mother of Bianca Estrada; loving daughter of Mary Ellen and George Lopez and Aurelio Napoles; dear sister of Priscilla (Carlos) Campos, Jose (Samantha) Napoles, Marco (Cary) Napoles, James Lopez, Jiovanni (Samantha) Lopez and Jarrett (Diana) Lopez; treasured aunt of Jena, Jayden, Sofia, Damian, Elliot, Giana, Janelle, Mavis, Izabella, Mateo, Dario, Jayleen, Abel James, Freya and Kara.
Visitation was held June 16 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th Street just west of Harlem). Visitation at the funeral home on June 17 until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to Mary Queen of Heaven Church, 5300 24th Street, Cicero for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment is Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
STELLA T. LUCAS
Stella T. Lucas, age 101, long time resident of Chicago, Garfield Ridge community, passed away June 14.
She was the beloved daughter of the late John and late Martha Lucas; loving sister of the late William (late Adele) Lucas; dear aunt of Barbara (Frank) Kofron and the late Anita (late Michael) Konieczka. Stella will be missed by her great nieces and nephews, Cheryl Klinger, Tom Koniedczka, Michael W. Konieczka, Laura Pokorney and Frank W. Kofron, and seven great great nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held June 19 until time Mass at St. Daniel the Prophet Church. Procession from the church to St. Casimir Cemetery where Stella was laid to rest next to her parents. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Stella’s name to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, http://donate.mercyhome.org.
FRANCES A. MARKLEY
Frances A. Markley, age 98, oaf Chicago, Garfield Ridge community, passed away June 18.
Beloved wife of the late Eugene Markley; loving mother of John Markley and Karen (Gary) Camodeca; cherished grandmother of Geri (Mike) Marrella and Dr. Anthony (Shannon) Camodeca; great grandmother of Lauren and Nicholas Marrella. Frances was preceded in death by her siblings, John, Edward, Frank and Ethel Ochaba. Beloved sister-in-law of Frances (late Martin) Hisson, the late Margaret (late Lawrence) Bohlig, late Mabel Markley and the late Rita (Charles) Callahan. Dear Aunt of many nieces and nephews and loving Godmother to Annette Burcl.
Visitation was held June 22 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th St. just west of Harlem). Visitation was held at the funeral home June 23 until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to St. Faustina Kowalska Parish for a Mass of Christian Burial. Frances was laid to rest next to her beloved husband at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Conodlences may be sent to Frances’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
TIMOTHY MESICH
Timothy Mesich, age 52, of Brookfield, passed away June 9.
Beloved son of the late John V. Mesich and the late Mary A. Mesich (nee Smith); dear brother of Robert Mesich, Jacqueline McMillin, William James Mesich, and William Joseph Mesich; dear uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Services and Interment Private. Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Justice. Arrangements entrusted to Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd. 9445 W. 31st Street, Brookfield. 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 Timothy Mesich Family. We will gladly forward it on to the family.
MARIA PIETRZAK
Maria Pietrzak (nee Lasyk), age 80, passed away May 25.
Beloved wife of Stanislaw Pietrzak; loving mother of Renata (Piotr) Antolak, Agnieszka (Thomas) Hedberg and the late Piotr (Lilianna) Pietrzak; dear Babci of Mason, Hannah, Jesika, Patryk, Kamil, Kamila and Hubert; dearest great-grandma of Emil. Also survived by relatives and friends.
Visitation was held May 30 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Faustina Kowalska Church, 5255 S. McVicker Avenue, Chicago for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice. For more information, 708-496-0200 or www.kaminskifamilyfuneralhomes.com.
CTIBOR SEMERAK
Ctibor Semerak, age 73, passed away May 26.
Beloved husband of 28 years of Lucja (nee Bal) Krupnik; loving father of Dadla Piskova and Adrian Krupnik; dearest grandfather; cherished son of the late Marie (nee Patokova) and the late Hugo Semerak; dear brother of Dana Jura. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visitation was held May 30 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice, a service and Time of Remembrance were held at the funeral home. Cremation rites to be accorded. For more information, 708-496-0200 or www.kaminskifamilyfuneralhomes.com.
DOMINICA “MINNIE” DE VITO TONISSEN
Minnie Tonissen, age 102, of Joliet, formerly of Chicago, Clearing community, passed away peacefully June 15, with family by her side.
Born to parents Vincenzo and Concetta DeVito, preceded in death by brothers Mikey (wife Dorothy), Vito, Tony (wife Abbey) and Carmie. Wife of the late Glenn Tonissen; mother of Steven (Debbie nee Handley) Tonissen, MaryAnn (David) Wayer, Patricia Tonissen, Kathryn (Joseph) Pecora and the Late Vince (Marilyn nee Monaco (Eddie) Marques) Tonissen; cherished grandmother of Eric (Cindy) Tonissen, Vinny (Laura) Vassalla, Kirk (Karen)Tonissen, Jerry (Melinda)Vassalla, late Danny Tonissen, Joey (Julie) Vassalla, Katie (Kevin)Gray, Christina Tonissen, Kevin Fitzpatrick (Ciarán Traynor), Emily Leavy; great grandmother of nineteen.
Visitation was held June 19 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation was held June 20 at the funeral home until time of Prayers. Procession from the funeral home to Two Holy Martyrs Parish, St. Rene Goupil Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Minnie was laid to rest next to her loving husband Glenn (Tony) at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, in Hillside. Condolences may be sent to Minnie’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
MALWINA WAWRZYNOWICZ
Malwina Wawrzynowicz, age 99, passed away June 9.
Loving mother of Czeslawa Pogorzelska, Slawomira Pietrzak, Anna Oktaba and Valerie (Henryk) Kruzel; dear grandmother of Adam, Ewa, Krzystof, Linda, Paulina, Mateusz, Lukasz, Kamila, Michael, Randy and Nicole; great grandmother of Wiktoria, Anitka, Maja, Zosia, Adrian, Szymon, Stanislaw, Karol, Shoshanna and Hadassah.
Visitation was held June 14 until time of funeral prayers at the Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 Archer Ave. (corner of Lorel) preceding mass at St. Faustina Kowalska Church. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. For more information, please call 773-767-1840 or www.richardmidwayfh@hotmail.com.
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