Janell O'Barski

Janell Wenzel O'Barski age 90, born September 9, 1931, passed away Sunday, July 31, 2022. Janell ("Jan") lived in Lansing (1940-1959), Oak Park (1964-1987), and Homewood (1987-2011), and spent her final years in Olympia Fields.

She graduated from Thornton Fractional High School in 1949. She earned a BA in History from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN in 1954, and a MA in American Studies from the University of Wyoming in 1960. She had a long and established career as a high school teacher and held positions at TF North, TF South, Los Alamos, NM, and Rich East. She finished her career at Oak Park-River Forest High School, where she and her colleagues developed an American Studies program that received national recognition from professional organizations.

She married Harry O'Barski in 1999. They spent summers in a lake home in Longville, MN and winters in Naples, FL. She loved to travel and visited all 50 states and 30 foreign countries. Her hobbies included bird watching, wildflowers, Mah Jongg, and puzzles. She also enjoyed the arts, especially opera.

She was preceded in death by her parents Nick and Eva Wenzel, her brother Duane (Dewey) Wenzel and his wife Marjorie, and her husband Harry O'Barski. She is survived by her nephews Nick (Vicky), Mike (Marilyn), Otto (Debbie) and Matt Wenzel; niece Traci (Jim) Ciarelli; and 13 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church, 1131 Douglas Ave, Flossmoor, IL 60422.  Janell will lie in state at the church from 10:15 AM until time of service. Friends may call on the family on Monday, August 8, 2022, from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Tews-Ryan Funeral Home, 18230 S. Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430. A prayer service will take place at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John's College in Collegeville, MN, or to a charity of your choice in her name.

To view the livestream of the funeral mass, please click the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1223818948414338/