Known as Bubsy to his family; Mitch to his friends; and Dad, Pops, Papa, Grandpa to his children and grandchildren. He was both a gentle man and a gentleman. Born October 8, 1929, Mitchell was a lifelong Joliet area resident, a graduate of St. Thaddeus grade school, Joliet Catholic High School, and Joliet Junior College. Although he considered the priesthood early in life, travels through Europe with the Air Force, Airman 1st Class, during his Korean War service and a blind date with Virginia Cernick in 1955 changed all that, for which his children are grateful.
Mitchell had the travel bug, particularly when it came to driving; family road trip stories are legend. The 'driving gene' was so strong that, after retirement from General Motors in 1987, he worked as a driver for the Heritage Library System, delivering books from library to library, befriending fellow book lovers along the way (he was an avid reader). He also loved history, the Cubs, occasional trips to Vegas, a good cup of coffee and a slice of pie. Most of all, he treasured a good meal shared with family and friends.
Mitchell was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; his parents, Frank and Catherine (née Lesniak); brother, Chester; and a Polish family's worth of aunts and uncles. He is survived by a sister, Betty Juricic; children, Karen (Patrick Byrne) Zaworski, Linda (Jim) Jurczyk, Mike (Mary Fran née Zola) Zaworski, and Dave (Carina Edling) Zaworski; grandchildren, Ellie and Malte; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.
His children would like to give a shout-out to his Minooka neighbors, who redefined neighborliness with their generosity and companionship toward both of our parents; and to Dr. Sanjiv Modi and his nurse practitioner Barbara Thompson, who monitored and cared for our dad so respectfully and gently. He spoke about you all often and so enjoyed his visits with you.
A Mass is planned for Saturday, July 6, at St. Mary Church in Minooka at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends will gather for a meet-and-greet beginning at 10:00 a.m.
A luncheon is planned immediately after Mass, with details to be announced at the service. Dad loathed only one thing in life: neckties. Therefore we encourage a no-tie dress code for the day.
Both Mitchell and Virginia will be interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.
Interment will be private. There will not be any services at Tezak's Funeral Home.
Known as Bubsy to his family; Mitch to his friends; and Dad, Pops, Papa, Grandpa to his children and grandchildren. He was both a gentle man and a gentleman. Born October 8, 1929, Mitchell was a lifelong Joliet area resident, a graduate of St. Thaddeus grade school, Joliet Catholic High School, and Joliet Junior College. Although he considered the priesthood early in life, travels through Europe with the Air Force, Airman 1st Class, during his Korean War service and a blind date with Virginia Cernick in 1955 changed all that, for which his children are grateful.
Mitchell had the travel bug, particularly when it came to driving; family road trip stories are legend. The 'driving gene' was so strong that, after retirement from General Motors in 1987, he worked as a driver for the Heritage Library System, delivering books from library to library, befriending fellow book lovers along the way (he was an avid reader). He also loved history, the Cubs, occasional trips to Vegas, a good cup of coffee and a slice of pie. Most of all, he treasured a good meal shared with family and friends.
Mitchell was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; his parents, Frank and Catherine (née Lesniak); brother, Chester; and a Polish family's worth of aunts and uncles. He is survived by a sister, Betty Juricic; children, Karen (Patrick Byrne) Zaworski, Linda (Jim) Jurczyk, Mike (Mary Fran née Zola) Zaworski, and Dave (Carina Edling) Zaworski; grandchildren, Ellie and Malte; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.
His children would like to give a shout-out to his Minooka neighbors, who redefined neighborliness with their generosity and companionship toward both of our parents; and to Dr. Sanjiv Modi and his nurse practitioner Barbara Thompson, who monitored and cared for our dad so respectfully and gently. He spoke about you all often and so enjoyed his visits with you.
A Mass is planned for Saturday, July 6, at St. Mary Church in Minooka at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends will gather for a meet-and-greet beginning at 10:00 a.m.
A luncheon is planned immediately after Mass, with details to be announced at the service. Dad loathed only one thing in life: neckties. Therefore we encourage a no-tie dress code for the day.
Both Mitchell and Virginia will be interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.
Interment will be private. There will not be any services at Tezak's Funeral Home.
Gravesite Details
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