Jacqueline R. Silkowski

Jacqueline Rita Silkowski was born July 10, 1944 and passed away on January 27, 2022. She was 77. She died peacefully with family at her side after a long journey with Alzheimer's Disease at her home in Orland Park, IL. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin A. Silkowski, her parents Rita B. Bielawski (Flieger) and Edward J. Bielawski.  She is survived by her loving children, Michelle S. Hackett and Melanie S. Ludington, and grandchildren, Emily L. Hackett, Josephine S. Ludington, and Ethan J. Hackett. Jacqueline (Jackie) will be greatly missed.

Jackie enjoyed family, friends, music, a hot cup of coffee, baking bread and Christmas cookies, squeaky kisses, hosting gatherings, fireworks and sparklers, the sound of children's voices, the sun on her face, all things penguin, giving a good back scratch, and cozy nights in front of the fire with a good television show or movie - Sound of Music being her absolute favorite.  Jackie liked to travel and saw most of the United States during her adult life. Two of her favorite international trips were to Poland and Italy. Jackie enjoyed water aerobics, choir practice and frequent walks in her neighborhood.

Jackie grew up in Chicago's Rosemoor Neighborhood. She attended high school at Academy of Our Lady (Chicago, IL) where she was a member of the National Honor Society and received the Bausch & Lomb Science Award.  She attended Mundelein College in her youth and completed her Bachelor of Arts at Saint Xavier College in 1988 with a degree in Education.

In the 1960s, Jackie worked for two years at Marshall Field's & Company in Chicago as a personal shopper. She then worked for three years at the Food and Drug Administration as a Physical Science Aide. After earning her college degree in 1988, she was a substitute teacher and trained elementary school teachers in a science curriculum called StarLab which focused on astronomy.

Jackie and Mel wed on May 1, 1965. They shared a happy married life living nearly 50 years in Homewood.

Jackie was an active volunteer her entire adult life.  She participated with the League of Women Voters in Hazel Crest from 1969 to 1973.  She participated in Homewood School District 153 PTA in various leadership positions from 1973 to 1982 including three years as President.  She was a member of the Saint Joseph Church Choir (Homewood) from 1969 until Alzheimer's Disease prevented her from participating in 2017.  She was also a member of the South Suburban Chorale and the Grande Prairie Singers for a number of years.  She had music in her heart at all times.

A wake will be held at the Tews-Ryan Funeral Home in Homewood on Sunday, January 30 from noon until 4 pm.

A Funeral Mass is planned for Monday, January 31 at the Parish of Saint Joseph in Homewood at 10:30 am. The Mass will also be a memorial for Jackie's husband, Mel, who died early in the pandemic and for whom services were unable to be held.

If you would like to make a donation in Jackie's memory, please do so at the Alzheimer's Association website: act.alz.org. On the donation page, notification of gifts can be sent to Michelle Hackett, 21309 Evalyn Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 .

TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM OF THE WAKE AT TEWS-RYAN FUNERAL HOME STARTING AT 3:00 PM JANUARY 30TH , PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

https://youtu.be/koGLkXo-Nww

TO VIEW THE LIVESTREAM OF THE FUNERAL MASS AT ST. JOSEPH CHURCH STARTING AT 10:30 AM JANUARY 31ST , PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

https://vimeo.com/671569412