Margaret Ann Zak

Margaret Ann Zak, 92, of St Charles Il. passed away peacefully at her home in St Charles IL on  August 15, 2022. Margaret was born on April 30, 1930 in Milwaukee WI. to John and Jean (nee. Kurszewski) Rohan. At age 9 she lost her father from the effects of his service in WWI in the Chemical Warfare Division of the U.S. Army while serving in Europe. Six years later in 1945 she lost her only sibling, her beloved brother, Corporal John Rohan, U.S. Marines in the battle on Iwo Jima in WWII.

Margaret attended Messmer Catholic High School in Milwaukee, WI. It was there she met Rita Zak her best friend throughout high school and her future sister-in-law. After graduating from Messmer Catholic High School in June of 1948 she worked as a secretary. It was in 1949 at Rita Zak’s wedding when she decided the bride’s brother Alfred Zak would be her future husband.

After a two-year long-distance romance between Milwaukee and Chicago, where Alfred attended nursing school at St. Alexian Brothers Hospital, they were joined in Holy Matrimony on June 30, 1951 in Milwaukee, WI. For a short time they lived on the north side of Chicago. They shared the next 68 years together, raising a family with eight children in St. Charles IL, until Alfred’s passing in November 2019.

Margaret was the ultimate “stay at home” mom in the 1950s, 60s and 70s raising 8 children in the house on 12^th Street in St Charles. It was not until 1959, at age 29, while expecting her sixth child, that she finally got her driver’s license. Then in the fall of 1962 she hit full stride with the keys to a new 1963 Ford Fairlane station wagon. She became one of so many moms around town taking her kids everywhere imaginable just doing everything she could for them.  Den mother to her Cub Scout boys and troop mother to her Brownie and Girl Scout girls she did it all. Member of the PTA and managing a household of 10 people never slowed her down. She also ruled the lanes at the St Charles Bowl as a dominant league bowler for years. An animal lover all her life she doted over all her “grand dogs” and loved when her kids would bring them by to visit. Margaret loved bird watching as well, always keeping her Audubon bird book handy to teach the family all about her bird friends.  

Margaret was an active member of St Patrick’s Catholic Church in downtown St. Charles serving for years on the Women’s Club as both member and president. She later became a Lector and eventually a Eucharistic Minister at St. Patrick’s Crane Road Church.

She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Summers in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and winters in Florida with Alfred were a way of life for her along with cherished trips to the Holy Land, Rome, Lourdes France and Hawaii along the way.

Margaret is survived by her children, Michael (Diane) Zak, Patrick (Stephanie) Zak, Kathleen (John) Vermaat, Maureen (Richard) Bergeson, Timothy (Anita) Zak, Peter (Kimberly) Zak, Eileen (Jeffery) Buck, and her grandchildren, Jennifer, Greg, Annette, Edward, Christopher, Daniel, Colleen, Alex, Kelley, Jason, Katy and her 21 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Alfred, her parents John and Jean Rohan, her brother Cpl. John Rohan U.S. Marines, her sister-in-law Rita Rawson her and husband Robert, her sister-in-law Jerilyn Zak, her son Christopher Zak and his wife Laurie, and her grandson Jack Cummins.

And finally, a special recognition to our mom’s caregiver Marie of United Senior Services, who since July 2021 along with our family’s caregiver, our sister Maureen, gave such love and comfort to our mom during her final year, we love and appreciate you both so very much.

There will be a visitation for Margaret at the St Patrick’s Church on Crane Road in St Charles IL on Saturday August 20, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be private at Resurrection Cemetery in Geneva IL immediately following the mass.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Margaret Zak’s name to: St. Patrick’s Church Sacred Art Endowment 6N491 Crane Road St. Charles, IL 60175

For additional information contact Moss Family Funeral Homes, St. Charles 630-584-2000, or www.mossfuneral.com