Sylvia Jean Dudek

Sylvia Jean Dudek passed away peacefully December 19, 2020.

She was born June 13, 1931 in Chicago to John and Helen Pitula.

Sylvia is survived by her children, Debbie Dudek, Karen Tichawa (Jim), Tom Dudek (Cheri), Mary Dudek (David), and John Dudek, grandchildren Ali Tichawa (Nate), Mandy Tichawa (Ben), Luke Tichawa, Jacqueline Dudek (Jason), Weston Dudek, Sa'sha Nyholm (Ed), and Mike Dudek, and great grandchildren Isabelle Dudek, Adilyn Nyholm, and Jackson Nyholm.

She was preceded in death by her siblings Eleanor Gadecki, and Elvira Rogalski.

In the early years, Sylvia married and became a stay-at-home mom. But when things fell apart, as they often do in life, she found herself alone to raise five children. She rose to the challenge by finding work at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, where she remained for the next 30 years. With her grit and resilience, she was successful at taking great care of her children. And yet, even with the day to day struggle and chaos, she was still able to find a sense of humour - like the time she put cardboard in the bologna sandwiches for lunch on April Fool's day.

Sylvia was kind and generous. After retiring, she volunteered at the Florence nursing home in Marengo to help the seniors play bingo. She also helped at the local food pantry and, being a devote Catholic, supported the Right to Life at Sacred Heart Church in Marengo.

Sylvia had an adventurous spirit. She was willing to hike the Smokey Mountains in her 60's and kayake the Kickapoo River, with all its twists and turns, at age 88. She played basketball in her younger years, and, throughout life, enjoyed cross-country skiing, ice skating and swimming.

Sylvia also had a love for nature. Bird watching and gardening were her favorite pastimes. She also would take her children to Morton Arboretum in Lisle to enjoy its beauty.

Services for Sylvia will be held in the spring due to the COVID restrictions.