Stephanie J. Wicaryus

NAME Stephanie J. Wicaryus, age 90, of Wasco, passed away following a two year battle with dementia that eventually crippled her mind, but never her spirit. In her last hours, surrounded by the love of her family, she followed her husband to their heavenly home in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 4, 2008. BORN: She was born July 21, 1917 the daughter of John and Frances (Badziock) Bieronski in Chicago, IL. EARLY YEARS:Stephanie was a first generation Polish-American and grew up in Chicago while attending local schools. She found work at several manufacturing companies through her early years including a mustard company, a factory that made the Baby Ruth candy bar as well as Amatorp where they manufactured torpedoes during the war. Stephanie also worked for many years as a housekeeper for the Chicago Polish Alliance Club. Beginning in the early 1940’s, Stephanie found work as an operator for Illinois Bell and retired as a supervisor over thirty-five years later in 1976. After Stanley passed away, Stephanie began working at Geneva High School as a lunch lady and quickly made a name for herself among the students, her favorites always getting "extra". After many years her legend was cemented. On her final day she could count hundreds of students among her friends and find her picture in seventeen different year books.MARRIAGE She found the love of her life when she was only seventeen. Two whirlwind weeks later, and to the chagrin of both families, she was united in marriage to Stanley Wicaryus on January 11, 1936 at St. Aloysius Church in Chicago. RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: They began their new life together in an apartment for several years until they moved to Glen Ellyn. There they purchased five acres of land, built a house and continued to raise a family making their house "home" for the next forty-six years. On September 5, 1985, Stephanie and Stanley moved in with their daughter in Wasco, IL. MEMBERSHIPS Stephanie was a faithful member of the Third Order of St. Francis as well as Telephone Pioneers for many years. LIFE NOTES Stephanie loved polka dancing at local neighborhood bars, the Aragon Ballroom and Navy Pier. She was also a gifted at crocheting and would give afghans to family and friends and even taught her son how to darn socks and do the laundry. Later in life, Stephanie became the "official cheerleader" complete with cowbell that she’d ring with gusto for her great-grandchildren at Tae Kwon Do tournaments. She was infamous for her driving until finally giving up her license in 1995 much to the relief of the general public, not to mention her family. Stephanie was great in the kitchen and made the most authentic Polish food whose recipes were passed down for generations. There was never a woman who was more kind and compassionate– unless of course someone had somehow "wronged" one of her family, then the gloves came off and Heaven help you if you were that person. Her passion for family, strength of spirit and her favorite phrase, "Fit as a fiddle and ready for love!" is the legacy she leaves behind along with hundreds of stories of days gone by that will live on in the hearts of those who loved her. SURVIVORS She now leaves her daughter Pat and the late Bill Cosgriff of Wasco, One son Richard (Laura) Wicaryus of Capron, IL Two grandchildren:James R. (Amy) Wicaryus of Chamong, IL Dottie-Marie "Anne" Cosgriff-Powell and her three children: Kathryn Fisher, Jade Cosgriff-Powell, and Jesse Cosgriff-Powell, all of Geneva, IL;Two siblings:Theodore (Lucille) Bieronski of Berwyn, IL and Lillian (Edward) Traczyk of Chicago; Many nieces, nephews and a family of friends. PRECEDED She now joins her husband Stanley, her parents and two siblings, Irene (Ernest) Knitter and John Bieronski who died in infancy. MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit the Church of St. Gall Building Fund, Carlton Home Health and VNA Hospice. Checks may be made to the "Stephanie Wicaryus Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through www.conleycare.com.

VISITATION / FUNERAL Friends may call Sunday, June 8th, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, from 2-6 p.m. A mass to celebrate her life will be held Monday, June 9th, at The Church of St. Gall, Elburn, at 2:00.

Interment will follow at St. Gall Cemetery.