Frances Konecny

Date of Birth

Oct 06,1923

Date of Death

Dec 31,2007

FRANCES M. KONECNYAge 84 of rural Hampshire, passed away at her home, Monday afternoon, December 31, 2007. Surrounded by her loving family, she passed peacefully beyond the New Year here to be welcomed home forever in the arms of her beloved Joseph. The snow was falling softly, just as it was in White Christmas, the night that Joseph took her to see the show and proposed to her.BORN / EARLY YEARSFrances life began here, began in Chicago on October 6, 1923. When she was a child, her family moved to Westmont and opened a small restaurant called the "Little Bohemia" on Ogden Avenue. In many ways, the story of Frances’ life, would be intertwined with the life of that family business. She had a gift for music and learned to play the accordion at an early age. By the time she was nine, she was delighting guests at the restaurant with her music while working hard as a waitress as well. At sweet sixteen, the young man who would become the love of her life, came to work with her parents. Joseph Konecny was living at St. Procopius orphanage (now Benedictine University). Years later, in her eighties, Frances could still recall vividly, the day her parents went there to interview Joseph. He was painting the flag pole when she first saw him and her heart took a leap. Joseph came to make his home with them and, as Frances would later tell, the restaurant’s famous roast duck would become charred duck while their "kitchen romance" was cooking. Joseph did indeed propose at White Christmas in a Chicago theater and, not long afterward, was drafted into the service and assigned in Iran. When he returned, they were wed on February 16, 1946 and moved to what was known as Stark’s Corners near the intersection of routes 72 and 47. Over the next several years, they ran a Standard Oil Gas Station at the corner and Frances helped run the station while minding their growing family. Not long afterward, she and Joseph took over a small bar near Maple Park and moved the Little Bohemia there. It wasn’t exactly what they wanted but their dreams soon came true when they purchased property at the corner of Ramm Road and Illinois Route 47. Hand-in-hand, the entire family pitched in to build the home that soon became a restaurant. It was the birth of an American Dream and the love of Frances heart. In 1962 they built the new Bohemia Restaurant just south of the family home and a new era began. All the while Frances remained active in the restaurant but longed for a home away from her family’s life work. In 1975, she got her wish when they purchased the present family home on McGough Road. Frances made it a haven for her family. In the back there was a pond and everywhere there were flowers. She never ceased to love cooking and baking and it went without saying that holiday gatherings and parties for any reason were always held at Frances’ house. As time passed, the beauty and peace of this place would become heaven on earth for Frances. Following Joseph’s death, her daughter thought she needed a companion and one day, a tiny Chihuahua arrived with that daughter from Texas. So tiny, the dog she wore a bell around her neck to keep her from getting lost. Thus, she became "Bella" to everyone and the very best friend for Frances. To Frances’ very last breath, Bella remained at her side and comforted the long days and nights. Frances herself had a beautiful appreciation for the simple beauty of nature and the everyday joys of life. Her sense of humor entertained everyone and her humility let her laugh at herself, right along with everyone else. She was passionately devoted to her family and to the hopes and dreams of every generation. Always looking for ways to help, Frances developed a "gadget fetish" that accumulated a "what-cha-ma-call-it" for every need. On the trail of such gadgets, she loved to go shopping and garage sale bumming and, in recent years, enjoyed "arm-wrestling" with the one-armed bandits at area casinos whenever she had the chance. SURVIVORS: She is survived by her five children:Mary (Mark) Friedmann of HampshireJoe (Sandy) Konecny of HampshireCookie (Dave) Seimer of Maple ParkToni (Mike) Berens of Maple ParkJim Konecny of Barrington HillsNine grandchildren:Mary’s:John Mark (Tracey) Friedmann Joseph (Debra) Friedmann andJason FriedmannJoe’s:Tammy (Dan) DietzMichelle (Scott) MillerJill (Brian) Miller andRachel DundasToni’sMandy BerensJessie BerensThirteen great grandchildren:Joseph’s: Robert and Tyler FriedmannTammy’s: Joe and Justin DietzMichelle’s: Jami, Ashley, Luke, and Zachary MillerJill’s: Madisen and Caden MillerRachel’s: Taylor and EricaMandy’s: Ian Wolfgang BellonHer loyal canine companion Bella andfour great granddogs:KatieRenoBaileyBuggie PRECEDED Louis and Marie Krenek, parentsJoseph Konecny, husbandLouis Krenek, Jr., brother VISITATION / FUNERAL At her request, no public services will be held but when the winter blanket is lifted and the shades of green are revealed with the sounds of summer buzzing in the air, her loved one’s will gather and have a memorial service to honor Frances at her pond. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Provena Hospice at St Joseph\’s Hospital in Elgin. Cremation care entrusted to Conley Funeral Home, Elburn.

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In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Provena Hospice at St Joseph\’s Hospital in Elgin.

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