Ann J. Bensfield, 81, North Riverside homemaker
North Riverside resident Ann. J. Bensfield (nee Militello), 81, died Nov. 4, 2006 at Manor Care Health Services in Hinsdale.
She was born in Chicago on Jan. 21, 1925 to Sam and Sarah Militello. She married Joseph E. Bensfield and raised four children. She was preceded in death by her husband and by her daughter, Jo Ann Mulligan.
Ms. Bensfield is survived by her sons, Joseph (Annamarie) Bensfield and Samuel (Deborah) Bensfield; her daughter, Joyce Bensfield; her grandchildren, Howard Mulligan, Aubrey Bensfield, Sarah Bensfield, Brenden Bensfield, Jake Bensfield and Elizabeth Bensfield; her great grandchildren, Jennifer Mulligan and Jonathan Mulligan; and her sister, Frances (Dominic) Salvato.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 7 at Mater Christi Church, North Riverside, followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park.
Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
Kenneth M. Johnson, 74, Served in British Merchant Marine
Kenneth M. Johnson, 74, a Brookfield resident since 1967, died Oct. 27, 2006 at LaGrange Memorial Hospital.
Born in Great Britain, Mr. Johnson served in the British Merchant Marine. He married Katie Mackinnon in Glasgow, Scotland on July 3, 1957; the couple found their way to Brookfield 10 years later and never left. He was employed as an engineer by the Ashland Corporation in Chicago, retiring in 1996 after 25 years.
He was active in the Westchester Masonic Lodge #995 as a member and past master. He was also a volunteer with the Boy Scouts and enjoyed camping and hiking.
He is survived by his wife, Katie Johnson; his son, Scott (the late Corliss) Johnson; his daughter, Elizabeth; and his granddaughters, Zoe and Alexis Johnson.
Funeral services were private. Memorial contributions were appreciated to the CorlissFoundation.com, c/o 323 N. Warwick Ave., Westmont, Ill. 60559.
Johnson Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
Marie Pry, 95, Brookfield resident
Marie Pry (nee Dzadony), 95, a resident of Brookfield, died Oct. 29, 2006 at Foster G. McGaw Hospital on the campus of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.
She was born in McKees Rocks, Pa. on Aug. 17, 1911 to Joseph and Mary Dzadony, one of eight children. A homemaker, she was married to Charles Pry, who preceded his wife in death.
A funeral service was held Nov. 1 at Hitzeman Funeral Home in Brookfield. Interment was private.
Memorial contributions were appreciated to the American Cancer Society, 7234 Ogden Ave., Suite 3 South, Riverside, Ill. 60546-2207.
Helen J. Seifert, 87, Retired Ward’s manager
Brookfield resident Helen Justine Seifert (nee Bouse), 87, died Oct. 30, 2006 at the Tabor Hills Healthcare Facility in Naperville.
Born March 8, 1919 to Frank and Bessie Bouse in Chicago, she married Charles Seifert and worked as a manager for the Montgomery Ward company. She was also a member of C.S.A. #434, Pzensky Sokol, with the Ladies Aide of the Bohemian Home as past president and as a board member of the Tabor Hills Healthcare Facility.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Bessie (Rudolph) Blecha. She is survived by her husband, Charles Seifert; her sons, Frank (Charlene) Seifert and Thomas (Nancy) Seifert; her grandchildren, Elizabeth Seifert, Matthew Seifert, Samantha Seifert, Katherine Seifert and Kevin Seifert; and her brother, James (the late Ruth) Bouse.
Funeral services were private. Entombment was at Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago.
Memorial contributions were appreciated to Tabor Hill Healthcare Facility, 1437 Crystal Ave., Naperville, Ill. 60563.
Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
William J. Svrluga Sr., 84, Retired from Electro-Motive
William J. Svrluga Sr., a resident of Elmhurst and former resident of North Riverside, died Oct. 31, 2006 at the Lexington of Elmhurst at the age of 84.
A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, Mr. Svrluga participated in the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. He married Ruth E. Crowell, and the couple had three children.
Mr. Svrluga was employed as an engineer at GM’s Electro-Motive plant in McCook. He also served as a health inspector for the Village of North Riverside.
Mr. Svrluga was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth E. Svrluga (nee Crowell). He is survived by his sons, William J. (Lucy Gerold) Svrluga Jr. and Richard (Donna) Svrluga; his daughter, Judy Quinby; his grandchildren, Barry (Sue) Svrluga, Bradley (Julie Bowen) Svrluga, Linda Hernandez, Jason (Belynda) Quinby, Laura (Eddie) Barba, Sara (Paul) Sullivan and Krista Wachter; and many great grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 4 at St. Mary Church, Riverside, followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park.
Kuratko Funeral Home/Nosek Family Funeral Directors, North Riverside, handled arrangements.
Raymond C. Tyrolt, 77, Retired industrial engineer
Longtime Brookfield resident Raymond C. Tyrolt died at home on Oct. 24, 2006 at the age of 77.
Mr. Tyrolt served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and on Sept. 6, 1958 married Christa K. Hagemeier in Chicago. The couple moved to Brookfield in 1962, remaining there since.
For 42 years he was employed as an industrial engineer at the Hy-Grade Meat Company in Chicago, retiring in 1992. He was known as a home handyman who loved spending time with his grandchildren.
Mr. Tyrolt is survived by his wife, Christa K. Tyrolt; his sons, Ken (Marita) Tyrolt and Ken (Rae) Tyrolt; his daughter, Caroline (Robert) Gaddis; his sister, Lorraine Banahan; and six grandchildren.
Services were private.
Johnson Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
Ruth C. Zib, 82, Retired from Western Electric
Ruth C. Zib (nee Cizkovsky), a resident of North Riverside, died Oct. 30, 2006 at the Renaissance at Hillside at the age of 82.
Ms. Zib was married to Rudolph J. Zib, who preceded his wife in death. She was employed as an office worker at the Western Electric Company in Cicero prior to retiring.
She is survived by hers sister, Marjorie (Edward) Gober; her nephew, Mark (Debbie) Gober; and two nieces, Gail Gober and Donna (Bryan) Prima.
A funeral service was held Nov. 3 at Kuratko Funeral Home, North Riverside, followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park.
Memorial contributions were appreciated to the North Riverside Community Presbyterian Church, 2350 8th Ave., North Riverside, Ill. 60546.
Mary K. Mikenas, 89, Brookfield homemaker
Mary K. Mikenas (nee Olson), 89, died Oct. 26, 2006 at Meadowbrook Manor in LaGrange.
Born March 6, 1917 in Chase, Ill. to Victor and Cassandra (nee Smith) Olson, she is survived by her son, John A. Mikenas, and her grandchildren, Michael V. and Anne H. Mikenas. Funeral services and interment were private.
Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
Rose Makrlik, 95, Brookfield resident
Brookfield resident Rose Makrlik (nee Kucera), 95, died Oct. 24, 2006 at the British Home in that village.
Born Rose Kucera in Chicago on June 16, 1911 to Rudolf and Rosena Kucera, she married Joseph Makrlik and raised one daughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and daughter, Doris (Irvin) Nemecek. She is survived by her grandchildren, Brian Langosch, Kenn Langosch and Gail Hall; and her great grandchildren, Brandt, Keith, Graham, Hannah, Tyler, Nicole and Kaitlin.
A funeral service was held Oct. 28 at Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park.
Memorial contributions were appreciated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 640 N. LaSalle St., Suite 280, Chicago, Ill. 60610.