Mitchell L. Zaworski

Mitchell L. Zaworski

Mitchell died on Friday, June 21, the first day of summer, just 10 months after the death of his beloved wife Virginia. Known as Bubsy to his family; Mitch to his friends; and Dad/Pops/Papa/Grampa 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 First 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 A�??driving geneA�?i�� 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, and, most of all, a good meal shared with family and friends.

Mitchell was preceded in death by his wife Virginia; his parents Frank and Catherine (nee Lesniak); brother Chester; and a Polish familyA�??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 nee 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 am. Family and friends will gather for a meet-and-greet beginning at 10:00 am. 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.

Those wishing to donate in his name may consider Joliet Area Community Hospice, which Dad lauded for their service to Mom in 2012; see joliethospice.org.

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 TezakA�??s Home to Celebrate Life.