Lucille M. "Lou" (Plese) Kocjan

Lucille M. "Lou" (nee Plese) Kocjan, age 92, passed away on Saturday, June 2, 2018, with her family by her side.

Lou is survived by her two children, Edward “Joe” (Carol) Kocjan and Jackie (Herb) Zite; six grandchildren, Susan (Dave) Olson, Amy (Tim) Reilly, Terri (Quentin) Dudeck, Joseph (Tiffiny) Kocjan, Stacy (Jim) Leaver, and Brian (Linda) Kocjan; eleven great-grandchildren, Cassidy Corzine, Maya Leaver, Ryan, Michael, Brandon and Jacob Olson, Alissa and Deegan Kocjan, Casey and Keegan Reilly, and Ryan Gierucki. She is also survived by one sister, Zita Verklan; three sisters-in-law, Angeline Plese, Geraldine Plese, and Eileen Plese; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lou is preceded in death in by her husband of 27 years, Edward "Pat" Kocjan (1972); her parents, Katherine and John Plese; her siblings, John Plese, Frances (Raymond) Butscher, Helen (Clarence) Kinzler, Luke Plese, Sylvia (George) Vulgaris, Walter Plese, Mary Plese, and Martin Plese.

Lou was born December 13, 1925 in Joliet, Illinois to John and Katherine Plese. She attended St. Mary Nativity Grade School and Joliet Township High School. She was a long time member of St. Bernard Parish in Joliet, where she sang in the church choir for over 40 years, and was a former member of St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church and their choir.

Lucille worked for many years as a quality control inspector for Shelby Craft Co.

She loved her family, especially her grandkids, and enjoyed music, cooking for her family (especially her delicious turkey dinners), baking potica and her cinnamon rolls, and watching her favorite T.V. show, "Everybody Loves Raymond." She was known for her great sense of humor, quick wit, and for being outspoken or "telling it like it is" (as she described it). She was always there to help her family and friends, and selflessly acted as a caregiver to those in need.

The family would like to thank the staff at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home for their care of Lou the past twelve years; as well as the staff of Joliet Area Community Hospice, especially Lou's nurse, Debbie, who provided excellent support to Jackie and Ed during the past 3 months.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that donations be made to Joliet Area Community Hospice or Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home.

A celebration of Lucy’s life will begin on Thursday, June 7, 2018 with a visitation at Our Lady of Angels, 1201 Wyoming Avenue, Joliet, from 9:00 a.m. until the time for a Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Joliet. There will be no services at the funeral home.