JOEL R. BABICA

Joel R. Babica, age 88, passed away January 14.

Beloved husband of Antha Babica (nee Loy); loving father of Joseph Babica and Patty Zientara; dear grandfather of Eric and Kira; dearest great-grandfather of Alyssa, Aubree, Brayden and Quinn; fond brother of Carol Smith. Also survived by relatives and friends.

Visitation was held January 18 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 18, Service and Time of Remembrance were held at the funeral home. Interment, Fairmount-Willow Hills Memorial Park, Willow Springs.

OMAR GIL

Omar Gil, age 34, passed away January 5.

Cherished son of Teresa Renteria; loving dad of Omar Gil Jr. and Sophia Guzman; dear brother of Orlando Renteria, Jessica Casteneda and Jocelyn Castaneda. Also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends. He will be missed by all you loved and knew him.

Visitation was held January 11 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice, Illinois. Funeral was held January 12, prayers and procession to begin from the funeral home to Saint Bede the Venerable Church, 4440 W. 83rd Street, Chicago for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

GEORGE “JERZY” GOLUCH

George “Jerzy” Goluch, age 77, passed away January 11.

We are sad to announce the death of our father, George (Jerzy) Goluch of Chicago [Burbank], originally Strawczyn, Poland. He passed away January 11peacefully at home at the age of 77, surrounded by family.

He was preceded in death by father Władysław and mother Anna and brother Henryk. He leaves behind his beloved wife Maria, brother Joseph, sister Marianna, daughter Diana and son-in-law Jon, son Roman and daughter-in-law Ria and grandchildren Gabriel, Michael and Mikaela. He will be sadly missed and will always hold a place in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, Masses in memory of George are much appreciated. Visitation was held January 18 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 19, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Fabian Church, 7450 W. 83rd Street, Bridgeview for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

ELVIRA “VERA” HARGARTEN

Elvira “Vera” A. Hargarten (nee DiPietro), age 95, passed away on January 5.

Beloved wife of 49 years to the late Francis “Mickey” Hargarten Sr; loving and devoted mother of Francis “Fran” (Maureen) Hargarten Jr, Mary Kay (Edward) Schreiner, Mike (Carol) Hargarten, Geralyn Simosky, Keith (Kay) Hargarten and Donna (Marv) Worst; proud grandma of 17; twenty great grandchildren call her “GG” and one more baby girl will be coming soon; daughter to the late Salvatore and Natala DiPietro; dear sister to the late Carl (Josie) DiPietro, Francesca “Fran” (Bob) Leach, Genevieve and late (Ed) Irizarry, John (Shirley) DiPietro, and Sam (Mary) DiPietro: also loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Vera, a graduate of Nativity of Our Lord Grammar School and Visitation High School. She grew up in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, just south of “Little Italy”. She was a White Sox fan. Vera raised her family in Cicero and later moved to Hickory Hills, where she resided for 30 years. Recently, she relocated to Arizona to be with family there. She enjoyed playing gin rummy and pinochle, good home cooked meals, and spending time with friends and family. Vera was a kind, modest woman who loved her family unconditionally.

In lieu of flowers, donations to American Diabetes Association or the Hospice of the Valley are much appreciated. Visitation was held January 16 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 17, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Patricia Church, 9040 S. 86th Avenue, Hickory Hills for Mass. Interment, Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

WILLIAM L. HUNT

William L. Hunt, 86, of Palos Heights, passed away on January 16, 2024.

He was a Navy veteran.

He was the beloved husband of Jeanette for 54 years.  Loving father of Joyce (Kirk II) Petersen, the late Marsha (Bruce) Hodina, and the late Michael (Maria) Hunt.  Cherished Papa/Grandpa of Hannah (John) Ghassan, Kirk III (Armi Grace) Petersen, Sam Hunt, Ryan (Brittany) Petersen, Emily Petersen, Rachel Hunt, and Brad Petersen.  Great-Grandfather of Kirk IV, Izzie, Noah, Theo, and Maddie.  Dear brother of the late Vera, Fay, Diane, and Jerry, and brother-in-law of Marge and Fred.  Fond uncle, cousin, and friend of many.

Visitation was January 19 at the Becvar & Son Funeral Home in Crestwood.  Funeral services were held January 20 at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Paos Heights. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) would be appreciated.

JAMES JOSEPH JAROSZ

James Joseph Jarosz, longtime resident of Chicago’s Clearing community, passed away January 13.

He was the husband of June (nee Michus); dear father of James father-in-law of Michele Jarosz and Patricia Jarosz; loving grandfather of Michael Jarosz; much loved nephew of Theresa Galus and the late Raymon Galus; fond cousin of Michaeline (Dennis) Szczesniak, Claudia (Nicholas) Kowal, Karen (Mitch) Homer and Barbara (late Harold) Pollock.

Per his request, James will be cremated. Family and friends met January 19 at Two Holy Martyrs Parish, St. Rene Goupil Church for Mass. Procession from the church to Resurrection Cemetery where James will be entombed near his other family members.

EDMUND “EDDIE” M. JENTCZAK

Edmund “Eddie” M. Jentczak, longtime resident of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge community passed away at home January 14. Army Veteran Korean War.

Husband of Shirley Sherpetis; dear father of Dana (Lori) Di Lella and Marc (Josie) Temperle; proud grandfather of Carmina; fond brother of Dolores (late Kenneth) Dybas and uncle to their children Nicholas (Melissa) Dybas. Eddie was preceded in death by his brother Kenneth Jentczak. Fond uncle to many nieces and nephews. Eddie will be missed by his many friends. He loved classic cars and model cars and enjoyed his TV programs and a chocolate malt. Proud Member of IBEW Local # 134.

Visitation was held January 21 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation at the funeral home January 22 until time of Celebration of Life Service with Military Honors. He will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers donations in Edmund’s honor to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital would be greatly appreciated.

MARGARET OSTROWSKI-DZIALEK

Margaret Ostrowski-Dzialek (nee Hardecka), age 65, passed away January 12.

Beloved wife of the late Tadeusz Dzialek; loving mother of Caroline Ostrowski and David Dzialek; cherished daughter of Teresa (nee Aleksandrowicz) and the late Henryk Hardecki; dear sister of Urszula Stozek (nee Hardecka) and Janusz Hardecki; fond sister-in-law of Grażyna and Piotr Kowalczyk, Anna and Jozef Palasz, Beata Dzialek and Renata Dzialek. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation was held January 17 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 18, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Albert the Great Church, 8029 S. Central Avenue, Burbank for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

ROSE M. PACZEK

Rose M. Paczek (nee Dybas), graced this earth for 102 years, passed away peacefully January 9.

She was the beloved wife of the late Francis Paczek; loving mother of Jo Ann (Robert) Baade; cherished grandmother of Mary Ann (Patrick) Wozek and Margaret (Robert) Langele. Much loved great grandmother of Robert and Patrick. Rose will be remembered by her many nieces and nephews. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Rene Goupil Church and a member of St. Rene Altar and Rosary Society.

Visitation was held January 15 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation January 16 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. Rose was laid to rest next to her beloved husband at Resurrection Cemetery.

PEDRO SUAREZ

Pedro Suarez, age 75, passed away January 10.

Pedro was born on August 23, 1948 in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, Mexico, the son of Pedro Suarez and Maria Medina. Pedro married Maria del Refugio De La Garza on January 10, 1970 in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

Pedro is survived by his children Pedro, Jr. (Gabriela), Diana (Bernard), Veronica (Hector), Hector (Victoria) and his siblings Norma, Jose, Francisca and Juan. His beloved wife, Maria, and son, Daniel, preceded him in death, along with his sister Marisela. Despite the heartaches, Pedro’s spirit remained unbroken.

Pedro reveled in the joy of being surrounded by those he held dearly. He was a man of profound love, care and sociability. What most defined Pedro was his loving and caring nature, his strength, charisma and words of wisdom. He would never let anyone leave his presence without feeling better or happier.

His life was a testament to the importance of family bonds, and he lived by the belief that family was everything. His strength and charisma were evident to all that knew him. He was a loving grandfather to his 15 grandchildren: Pedro III, Rebeca, Christian, Natalia, Ethan, Sebastian, Isabella, Olivia, Abrial, Ariana, Klarissa, Karyna, Isaak, Fabian and Noah as well as his 2 great grandchildren, Benjamin and Adonis. Their love brought immeasurable joy to his heart every visit. Pedro, you are loved and will be dearly missed.

Visitation was held January 14 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 15, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Rita of Cascia Church, 2710 W. 63rd Street, Chicago for Mass. Cremation rites to be accorded with private interment at Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

KRYSTYNA TARCHALA

Krystyna Tarchala (nee Skrabacz), age 79, passed away January 14.

Beloved wife of the late Zdzislaw Tarchala; loving mother of Irena (the late Robert) Kaczmarek and Robert (Ewa) Tarchala; dear grandmother of Artur (Justyna), Kamil, Mikolaj (Joanna), Konrad (Ewelina) and Kinga (Michal); dearest great-grandmother of Anabelle, Martyna, Brian, Karol, Emma, Kaja, Adas and Kuba; cherished daughter of the late Irena (nee Kukus) and the late Stanislaw Skrabacz; fond sister of Zenobia Strzelec and the late Stanislaw Skrabacz. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Visitation was held January 19 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 20, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Our Lady Mother of the Church Polish Mission, 116 Hilton Street, Willow Springs for Mass. Cremation rites to be accorded.

JOSEPH TOMASKO

Joseph Tomasko, Jr., age 75, passed away January 8.

Cherished son of the late Rita T. (nee Romniak) and the late Joseph T. Tomasko Sr.; loving brother of Therese (Reid) Watts and Robert Tomasko; dear cousin and friend to many.

Visitation was held January 18 at Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice. Funeral was held January 19, Prayers and procession from the funeral home to Saint Mary, Star of the Sea Church, Chicago for Mass. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.