Obituary of Sophie T. Ratajczyk
Passed away peacefully and comfortably on August 26, 2020, surrounded by family and caregivers at the Balfour Community in Louisville, Colorado at the age of 92.
Sophie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Eliash; daughter, Barbara; brother, Stanley; and sister, Antoinette.
Sophie was born on May 10, 1928, in Poland, the daughter of John and Mary (nee Adak) Lacki. During World War II, Sophie was a survivor of a Russian concentration camp and the only known member of her family that survived. Soon after the war, she was taken in by a Catholic orphanage that traveled to many countries including Iran, India, and Mexico. An orphan in the custody of the Felician Sisters, she was brought to the United States and placed at St. Hedwig’s Orphanage in Niles, Illinois. Sophie was adopted by Helen and Joseph Jeski. While attending the wedding of the Jeski’s older adopted daughter, she met her husband, Eliash, and was married on February 17, 1953. The family resided in Chicago where she raised her four children and then lived many years in Joliet, Illinois. Sophie lived a complete life, full of joy, sorrows, trials, and tribulation. Throughout all, she kept a steady and loving disposition. Many people describe Sophie as the sweetest person they have ever met and many of her children’s’ friends think of her fondly as a second mother.
Sophie is survived by her sons, Richard (Ruta), Robert (Leann), and Ronald. She has nine grandchildren; Eric (Valerie), Jason (Valerie), Andrew (Jennifer), Nicholas, Tyler, Alyssa, Mathew, Elise, Rebecca, Sarah, and Joshua; and four great-grandchildren, Sophia, Katie, Madison, and Scarlet.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 3, 2020 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.), Joliet. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, there will be a maximum of 25 persons in her chapel at one time, face masks are required and social distancing will be observed. Funeral services Friday, September 4, 2020 at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Sophie will be buried alongside her beloved husband and daughter Barbara at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Il 60601 (https://act.alz.org). For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you may send an online condolence or share a favorite memory.
