Remembering Adeline 

(Above) This is Mom at her last Christmas with 8 of her Great Grandchildren and her Great Great Granddaughter.

These are the messages that I received after Mom passed away.

Dear Greg,
 
From South America I am offering Mass for your mom.  After 95 years she is now enjoying the reward promised to her by her Baptism.  I am sure that there is a bit of rejoicing knowing that what she set out to do by raising such a devoted family has been accomplished.
 May God bless all of you in this wonderful moment.
 Peace,  
Charlie (Father Charles Gordon St Mark class of 1954)

 Greg,

I am sorry to here about your Mom. But, as you said she is no longer suffering. I thank God for her place in Heaven.

Though I have never had the pleasure of meeting her, I am thankful that she has left an awesome family legacy that I get to enjoy. You sure are a true gentlemen! And your sons that I have met and skated with are great people, as well as, your grandchildren who come to watch us play.

You are blessed in many ways and so are the Duffers who I am so proud to be a part of.

Our thoughts and prayers are still with you and your family during this time.

Sincerely,

The Ambrosia Family (Duffer)

Dear Greg
Very sorry to hear about your mother's passing. I remember you speaking of her warmly and often.
With sympathy
Ron (Duffer)

Greg,
     I truly believe that your mom is rejoicing right now, which gives cause for you, your brother and the rest of the family to rejoice. Your mom was blessed with 95 years, what a blessing. I continue to pray that God will strengthen you and your brother. You have the peace of knowing that this was not only God's will but your mother's will also. I hope to see you at the wake.

Josie (Randolph Teacher)

I am so very sorry for your loss, but like you said her prayers are answered, all her pain is gone and she is with your Dad.  She has been in my prayers daily ever since you first told me about her condition at St. Marys.  She will now watch over you Greg and your family from above.  God Bless you and keep up that strength, you were a loving and faithful son.

Jackie Griffin (Dzingel)

Uncle Greg and Aunt Carole,

I’m so sorry for your loss, but know that your mom had a beautiful Valentines Day reunion with your dad.  My prayers will be with you in the upcoming days. Uncle Greg,

Thank you for allowing me to share in the journey of your mother’s final weeks.  It was an honor to read from her life book.

All my love, Jean Place

Greg,
 
I am sadden to hear of your mother's passing. Over the years I have been delighted by stories of her and was glad to have met her. May her life example and memories bring you peace.
 
LaVerne Martin (Randolph Teacher)

Greg,

You have our deepest sympathy on the death of your Mom. You and your family have been right there for her during all of these hard days. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. When I would log onto mail the first thing I would go to was to read the reports on your Mom. thanks so much for including me.

Mary and Al (Neighbors)

Dear Greg,

Please accept my sincere sympathy on the loss of your Mom.  Having lost my own mother almost 18 years ago at age 73, I know first-hand the gaping hole it leaves in your heart…a void unlike any you’ve felt previously or will ever feel again.

Although simple words fall so far short of easing the pain you must feel, I know from our relatively brief acquaintance that your Mom lived a life not only long but rich in love and devotion to her family.  May you take some consolation from that realization and from the wonderful legacy she left.

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. God bless you.

Valerie (Lady from Caremark CVS pharmacy)

Mr. Lopatka,
Sorry to hear of your mothers passing. Please know you and your family will be in our prayers. I hope the family is doing ok.
tony g (Tony Granato, Coach of the Colorado Avalanche)

Greg, I'm praying for you and your family. Remember earth has no sorrow heaven cannot heal.

Love you.

Antoinette M. Brown

Principal

Vanderpoel Humanities Academy

Beak,

Please accept my sincerest condolences for the loss of your mother.   We are thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

The Louis Family (Bill By The Way)

Dear Greg,

Please accept my deepest condolences. I know how close you were with your mom and how much you've done to give her an enjoyable life. I'm sure she'll be missed by many. May your good memories of her help you through this difficult time. Please pass my condolences on to your family.

Love,

Elaine  (Elaine Soloway Author of "The Division Street Princess.")

October 27, 2009

Please join us in offering your sincere condolences to Kenneth Lopatka (Maintenance Superintendent - Main) in the passing of his grandmother Adeline T. Lopatka.    Individuals desiring to express their condolences on-line, to the Lopatka family or view the obituary, may visit the Guest Book (Tributes and Notices) at www.suntimes.com.

We would like to extend our condolences to the entire Lopatka family. 

You’re a good man, from a great Mom, who is now with family in heaven. Thanks for all your involvement with the Duffer Family. They truly are a great group of guys. I am privileged to be able to spend time with you guys.  Tom Ambrosia (Duffer)

Greg-
I spoke with my mother and father, Rose and Wally Pietrusiak
about your Mom's dying. They remembered her fondly and send their prayer-filled condolences to you and your family.   Jerry (St Mark Grad)

Memories

I have such fond memories of Grandma & Grandpa that I don't know which one to share!  I do have a fun memory of Kathie & I taking a road trip to the Smoky Mountains with Grandma & Grandpa.  I don't remember the trip at all but I do remember being in the back seat and fighting in silent so Grandma & Grandpa wouldn't hear us.  We made mean faces & pinched each other!  When we stopped at a hotel we had dinner in the room.  Grandpa was so worried that the girls would spill their milk on the bed that he repeatedly told us, "Don't spill the chocolate milk!"  Of course, Grandpa was the one who ended up spilling the chocolate milk!
 
I also remember Grandma teaching me how to crochet.  I spent YEARS crocheting an afghan that never did quite turn out the right shape!  I haven't tried crocheting in years so I'm not sure if I remember how.  I still have my afghan along with the perfect one Grandma made.  I also cherish all my hangers and booties that Grandma made every year for Christmas...you can't get those hangers at a store and they were made with such love!
Debbie
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

Dear Greg and Carole,
We hope that you got our e-mail of sympathy and card all the way from Texas.
I have always remembered, for the past 40+ years, that Mrs. Lopatka gave our son, David, his first Teddy Bear for his 1st Christmas when we lived in Chicago. David had that Teddy Bear for years and it is probably up in the attic with many other memories. I remember her saying that every child needs a Teddy Bear. I also remember one of the last times that we saw her, while visiting in Chicago, she had her new cell phone. When we got back to El Paso she called us a few times, wanting to be sure and use the minutes. Mrs. Lopatka will surely be missed. Her smile and positive attitude were contagious!
Love,
Ted and Susan (Nowak)

Dear Carole and Greg,

I write this with a sad heart.  Your Mom meant so much to my whole family.  How could we ever repay what your Mom and Dad did for my Pop?  The last year of his life was made more bearable for him because of your parents.   Their goodness and generosity to George is unmatched.  There are so many childhood memories for all of my family members because of  your parents.  The trips to Indiana to visit the Sisters of Providence in Terre Haute, Your Dad making a fuss over the imagenary food I "cooked" for him, the New Year's Eves when tour Mom would call my Dad and invite us over (We never went out on New Year's eve, except to your house!) Your Mom always had a story about my Dad for me, She kept him closer to me than my own Mother did and I could never thank her enough for that.  She is so special- How lucky I was to have her as my God Mother.  My Dad must have loved me very much to have picked he for me.  I will miss her.

Barbara Lev (Zimny)

Uncle George always had a story about my Dad and his baseball ability.  He told me that my Dad was better than Phil Caveretta who went on to play for the Cubs. The mention of our Indiana trip brought back a memory for me.  Our Dad took us to watch the Terre Haute Phillies play a night game.  That was the first night game I had ever watched.  I was amazed that you could play baseball at night.  I remember Willie Puddin' Head Jones was the fan favorite that night.  He went on to have a 15 year Major League career with the Philadelphia Phillies and led the Wiz Kids to the World Series in 1950.

Greg

http://www.historicbaseball.com/players/j/jones_willie.html

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Terre_Haute_Phillies

Memories of Adeline and Herb:

When I think of Adeline and Herb together, my fondest memory is from the late 70's.  My parents, Paul and Dorothy Grueninger, were visiting John and me and we invited Herb and Adeline to go to dinner with us.  I believe it was the first time that the two couples met.  We went to Miomir's Serbian Club on Lawrence (unfortunately, no longer around) and then back to our condo.  My dad had spent 30 years as postmaster in our home town.  Herb had spent a portion of his career with the U.S. Postal Service. So they had something in common.  My mom had always worked while raising a family and I believe Adeline had worked also before her family was fully grown.  John and I both liked to talk, but that night we couldn't get a word in edgewise.  Both couples chatted non-stop for several hours.  I was very pleased that they had such a pleasant time together.

My most special memory of Adeline was having tea with her at her home several months after John had died in the summer of 2007.  We both were members of a special club to which no one aspires to belong: widows.  We reminisced about both of our spouses, laughed a little and almost cried a little, and shared experiences which many widows have and don't share with other people.  I remember Adeline peering over her tea cup and saying "if I told my kids about some of the things I've experienced, they would think I'd gone 'round the bend."  She was a great lady and I miss her mightily.

Sue Lopatka

Dear Greg and Carole,

Your Mother was always kind to me through all the years that I have known her. She never forgot my birthday.  I know she is at peace now and hope you are too.  Both of you were good to her.

June

Here are some links to happier times

 Mom's 95th Birthday Party

Some of my memories

Mom's Cook Book

Mom's Homes

Scanned Slides from the 1970s

Aunt Irene's 100th Birthday