EILEEN OWCZARZAK

Eileen Owczarzak, age 87, of Elburn, formerly of Itasca, passed away surrounded by the love and prayers of her family, Friday, November 11, 2022.

She was born January 12, 1935, in Chicago, IL, to proud and loving parents, Joe and Rose Di Giore.

Eileen grew up in several different areas in and around Chicago and attended local schools. After graduating high school, she attended College of DuPage where she studied interior design.

Eileen met Walter Owczarzak at a local dance, and it wasn’t long before she was swept off her feet. Their eyes may or may not have locked from across the room, but they locked arm and arm after being united in marriage on June 16, 1956. They began their new life together in Markham before settling in Itasca where they finished raising a family. Later she would move to Elburn and held court on the south side of town.

Eileen found work at the Holiday Inn, Marshall Field, National Material and others, but her main concern was the care of her family.

Eileen was a faithful member of St. Gall Catholic Church and made herself a place within the “Lunch Bunch” where food, stories, and gossip ruled the dinner table.

Eileen loved her garden like a child, and her happiest times were spent elbow deep in flowers, weeding to her hearts content. Racquetball kept her on her toes into her 70’s and she had no intention of slowing down. When she wasn’t courtside, Eileen loved to watch tennis on television, reveling in the back and forth drama unfolding on both grass and clay. Declining health eventually brought into the care of her loving children who cared for her, mirroring the love and devotion she gave all of them.

She now leaves her six children: Wendy (Pat) Barrett, Lynn (Harvey) Fishstein, Wayne (Kim) Owczarzak, Karen (Norman) Rubenzer, Jill (Richard) Wells and Kim (Lenny Motzny) Gioia; 10 grandchildren: Danielle, Patrick, Nicole, Chance, Stephanie, Valerie, Ellie, Brianna, Kyle and Andrea; 17 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and a family of friends.

She now joins her parents, Joe and Rose Di Giore; her husband Walter Owczarzak and one grandson, Maxwell Whalen.

A Mass to honor her faith will be held at St. Gall Catholic Church, 43W885 Hughes Road, Elburn, IL, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 17, 2022.  Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, IL.   In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in Eileen’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital at www.stjude.org/donate. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.