Obituary of Gloria M. Yakich
Gloria M. Yakich, age 89, a lifelong resident of Joliet and Shorewood, entered eternal life peacefully on Monday, February 20, 2023 at Alden Courts of Shorewood. Gloria faced many challenges and declining health over the past five months following a fall and a fracture, with a subsequent wound that did not heal.
Born December 8, 1933 in Joliet, she was the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Kwasniewski) Radomski, and was a graduate of Joliet Township High School. She married the love of her life, Richard A. Yakich, on May 3, 1952 and they enjoyed 68 years of marriage until his passing August 24, 2020. She was also preceded in death by a son, Richard Allen Yakich; her parents; two brothers, Frank Wruk and Daniel Wruk; and three sisters, Adeline Jolliffe, Beatrice Matuszewski and JoAnn St. Angelo.
Gloria was a loving and dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who cherished her life as a homemaker. Not only were her grandchildren very special to her, her grandchildren always knew how important they were to her. A talented and gifted crafter and decorator, she enjoyed making floral arrangements, and maintaining a beautiful home. She was also a gifted cook and baker whose ruskies and potica recipes defy duplication, and despite her Polish heritage, corned beef and cabbage was one of her specialties. She became a self taught aviculturist, when she adopted a pair of cockatiels that produced a total of 15 prized hatchlings under her care. To know her well was to profit from her gentle spirit and loving smile, attributes that served her well throughout her life.
Surviving are her devoted son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Beth Yakich of Channahon; her loving grandchildren, Nicholas (Chanel) Yakich of Minooka, IL, Kyle (Christina) Yakich of Sioux Falls, SD, and Alexis (Walter) Banasiak of Shorewood, IL; her great-grandchildren, Mya, Nichole, Jackson and Maxwell Yakich of Minooka, IL, and Remy Yakich of Sioux Falls, SD; one sister, Patricia Kraus of Portland, OR; sisters-in-law, Carol (Stanley) Demsky and Shirley Yakich; brother-in-law, Andrew “Mickey” Mikuska; and numerous cherished nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Kelley and the wonderful team of the west wing caregivers at Alden Courts of Shorewood and Lightways Hospice for the love and care given Gloria.
Visitation for Gloria Yakich will be held Sunday, February 26, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road, Joliet. Funeral services will be Monday, February 27, 2023 at 9:15 a.m., from the funeral home, to Holy Family Catholic Church, Shorewood, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment for both Gloria and Richard will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park where they will rest together forever.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or Lightways Hospice (www.lightways.org) would be appreciated.
For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
