Obituary of Grace Gnutek

Grace Gnutek (nee Napientek) Age 82, formerly of Cicero, passed away Sunday, December 7, 2014 at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village. Loving mother of the late Paula Escobar-Cockriel, Michael (late Sue) Cockriel, Casimer (Nilda) Cockriel, Theresa (Randall) Hetfield, and John (Dorothy) Gnutek; proud step-parent to Rose Marie Gnutek, David Gnutek and Frankie Czaja; proud grandmother of Roy, Michael, Paul, Victor, Gerardo, Alexa, the late Nathan, Casimer Jr., Vincent, Jenifer, Lucy, Ina, Jessica, Jeffrey; many great-grandchildren; and one sister, Leona Jacobs. Preceded by her husbands, Paul Thomas Cockriel and Felix P. Gnutek; her parents, Casimer and Florence (Rzeppa) Napientek; and one daughter, Paula Escobar-Cockriel. A mother to many and a graduate, suma cum laude, of Northwestern University, she worked in the office in the Physics Department of the University of Illinois at Chicago. A hostess for Christmas Eve for 42 years touching the hearts of seven generations, providing a gift for everyone! A great listener and guide for many children, grandchildren, and cousins. A keeper of everyone's memories keeping pictures and keepsakes from everyone for many generations. A great chef and baker of traditional Polish cuisine. A master of tradition and family! A closet poet and mother of a poet laureate in the U.S. National Library of Congress Paula Escobar Cockriel. A mother of four year Pell Grant winner Theresa (Gnutek) Hetfield. A role model and leader to Michael Cockriel, Victor Cockriel and Gerardo Cockriel who have established their own companies. A role model for U.S. Marine Corps, Casey Cockriel. A guide and counselor for Officer John Gnutek, State of Illinois. My mother encouraged self development, touched many hearts along the way and remembered everyone. Grace was a devoted wife, a loving and caring mother, and a dear grandmother and great-grandmother. Funeral Services for Grace Gnutek will be Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 9:15 a.m. from Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet, to Holy Family Catholic Church, Shorewood for 10:00 a.m. Mass. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday, 3-8 p.m. at the funeral home. For information: 815-741-5500