Obituaries

Jan 20, 2026

Jan 23, 2026

Kenneth Jentzsch, age 73 of Brookfield. Beloved son of the late Charles “Bud” D. Jentzsch and Marcella R. Jentzsch, nee Peirick, nephew and cousin of many

Visitation Tuesday, January 27, 2026 from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30A.M. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd. 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513 to St. Louise de Marillac Church, LaGrange Park, Mass 11:00 A.M.

Interment Queen of Heaven...

Jan 20, 2026

Anne Grall Reichel, age 72 of Lincolnshire, IL entered into eternal rest on January 20, 2026.

Anne was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her parents Patrick Joseph Grall and Mary (Preen) Grall predeceased her. She was the loving and devoted wife of 46 years to Jack Reichel. She is survived by her husband Jack Reichel, her son Patrick Reichel of LaGrange...

Jan 15, 2026

Simon M. Connolly, age 18, of Brookfield. Beloved son of Mary Connolly, nee Egan; loving brother of Christin (Jason) Pollard, Paula (Peter) Wengerski, Sean (Gretchen) Connolly, Kyon Egan, Lea Connolly, Joshua Connolly and Sophia Connolly; grandson of the late Michael (Marjorie) Connolly and Robert (Carla) Egan; nephew of Henry Darre, Laura (Bob) Kurz, Aldis (the late Cynthia) Darre and Martha...

Jan 22, 2026

Jan 20, 2026

Helen Karnik, nee Mikitkova, age 90 of LaGrange. Beloved wife of the late Gerhard Karnik; loving mother of Gerhard (Elizabeth) Karnik; grandmother of Kayley, Benjamin and Piper; sister of Milan Mikitka, Paulina Adameckova, Maria Slivkova; aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 9 A.M. to time of Service 11 A.M. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd., 9445...

Jan 19, 2026

Janet Knapczyk, nee Clark, age 90 of Joliet, formerly of La Grange. Beloved wife of the late Chester Knapczyk; fond mother of Richard (Annette) Knapczyk, Robert Knapczyk, Ronald (Deanna) Knapczyk and Kelly Knapczyk; loving grandmother of Sarah (Andrew) Panchenko, Emily (Tanner) O’Brien, Jason, Knapczyk, Jaclyn Knapczyk, Joshua Klein and Evan Klein; great grandmother of Adley, Clara and Zoe; dear sister...

Jan 18, 2026

Robert J. Bojan, age 73 Army Veteran of Brookfield. Beloved husband of Margaret Bojan, nee Schouten; dear father of Christine (Raymond) Keating, Michael (Sherie) Swiontek and Gregory (Kristina) Swiontek; grandfather of Megan, Ella, Alex, Kyle, Jack, Nick and Mike.

Visitation Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and Friday, January 23, 2026 from 9:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M....

Jan 14, 2026

John Munger, age 75 of Brookfield. Vietnam Army Veteran. Beloved husband of Magdalena Munger, nee Padilla; dear father of Dawn Munger and Jennifer (Kyle Coulter) Munger; brother of Sheila (Monty) Wymore, Janet (Milt) Kujawinski and Mary (Jay) Rezabek; brother-in-law of Norma (Steve) Bousquet, Linda (Rich) Gahalla, the late Nena Padilla ;uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation Tuesday, January 20, 2026...

Jan 7, 2026

Lon Varchetto, age 85 of LaGrange Park.  Army Veteran.  Beloved husband of Leona Varchetto, nee Brejcha; fond father of Tracy Varchetto, Matthew (Lori) Varchetto and Brett (Maria) Varchetto; dear grandfather of Ethan (Isabel), Brandon, Megan, Zachary (Daniela), Alexa, Dominic, Ashley, Taylor, Angelo, Gabriella, Chloe; great grandfather of Elias and one on the way; brother of Valerie (the...

2026

Gregory William Schaefer, age 69, of North Riverside. Beloved husband of Terry Schaefer, nee Nannini; loving father of Kimberly (Vincent) Palmisano and Kristen (John) Onstwedder; grandfather of Eliana, Vinny and Hallie; friend of many. Greg enjoyed spending time in his boat with family and friends, planning family vacations and tinkering with his model trains. He especially enjoyed making memories with...

Jan 1, 2026

Florence Blazek, nee Borowiak, age 102, of Aurora, formerly of North Riverside. Beloved wife of the late Edward J. Blazek; dear mother of Edward (the late Peggy) Blazek and Robert (Lynn) Blazek; grandmother of Ryan (Teri Lynn) Blazek, Timothy (Kristine) Blazek, Adam (Kaitlin) Blazek, Alex (Stefanie) Blazek; great grandmother of nine; sister of the late Edwin (the late Edna) Borowiak...

Dec 29, 2025

Ellen R. Cone, nee Rowland, age 89 of Broadview. Beloved wife of Sherman A. Cone; dear mother of Eric K. Cone; sister of four; aunt of many nieces and nephews; friend to many including all those she worked with at the Salvation Army and the Broadview Food Pantry.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at...

Dec 26, 2025

George Czerwonka, age 80, Army Veteran of Brookfield. Beloved husband of Judith M. Czerwonka, nee Windt; loving father of Cynthia (Jeff) Bryski, Anthony (Suzy) Czerwonka, Kristin Barnes and David (Brenda) Barnes; devoted grandfather of Scott Czerwonka, Chase Czerwonka, Jack Szymczak, Sam Szymczak, Julia Szymczak, Bryana (Steve) Maggio and Jacob Barnes; brother of Raymond Czerwonka and the late Henry Czerwonka; uncle...

Dec 24, 2025

Thomas J. Bork, age 74, of Brookfield. Loving son of the late Mary E. Bork, nee Ostrovecky and the late Max Bork; dear sister of Judith (David) Skurkis; uncle of Kristin (Christopher) Bellinger and Lauren Skurkis; cousin of Roger (Laura) Ostrovecky and great cousin or Anyssa Ostrovecky.

Visitation Monday, December 29, 2025, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. and Tuesday, December...

Dec 23, 2025

Gregory “Greg” A. Molinari, age 54 of LaGrange formerly of LaGrange Park and Brookfield, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on December 23, 2025.

Greg spent his childhood years in Brookfield and always remembered his Elementary School friends from Lincoln School. He spent his high school and college years in LaGrange Park and is a graduate of...

Dec 16, 2025

Milan “Miles” A. Zamco, 89, of Springfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Springfield. The son of immigrants, he was born on March 10, 1936, in Chicago, IL, to Steven “John” and Marie (Zajicek) Zamco, and they preceded him in death. He married the love of his life, Geraldine Fricek, on July 8, 1961, and she preceded...

Dec 7, 2025

Kathleen Ann Chase, 69 (Kathy to many), formerly of Chicago and Brookfield passed away quietly and comfortably in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, December 7th, 2025.

She is survived by her son, Phil Chase; her stepdaughter Charity (Tom) Gjersoe; grammie to: PJ, Payton, Brandon, and Carter; auntie grandma to: Eli, Addie, and Ezra; her sister, Kris (Steve) Kahn;...

Dec 7, 2025

Ruth B. Schech, nee Boehmke, age 96, of Portage MI, formerly of Darien, IL. Beloved wife of the late Ronald Schech; loving mother of Suzanne (Charles) Dale and David Schech; grandmother of Daniel Dale, Ashley Dale, Dane Shiltz, Erin Shiltz, Kristin Dale-Waldhauser, Tyler Schech and Sydney Schech; great grandmother of Sloan, Samantha Ruth, Dylan, Cameron, Isaiah, Brayden and Sabrina; sister...

Dec 7, 2025

Wayne Van Jaske, 71, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on December 7, 2025. Born in Chicago, Wayne grew up in North Riverside, where he formed lifelong friendships and developed the easygoing, lighthearted nature that would define him throughout his life. He graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School and went on to attend Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he played...