MARY ANN GIERZYNSKI
Mary Ann Gierzynski (née Kania), age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep May 22, 2022, at her home in Lombard Place Assisted Living.
Mary Ann was a long-time Lombard resident of at least 65 years, where she lovingly raised her seven children: Joe (Bonnie), Paul (Fiona), Eugene (Kathy), Anthony, Mary (Damien) Reynaud, Susan (Mark) Messersmith, and Jennifer (Tom) Biedenharn. Her family was blessed with eleven grandchildren: Sara (Todd) Klein, Peter, Kyle, Colin (Theresa), Alec, Wenona, Kelsey (Danny) Chaidez,, Adrianne, Madeline, Sydney Biedenharn, and Chayton; along with four great-grandchildren: Evan and Alex Klein, and Charles and Henry Gierzynski. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50+ years, Joseph, and recently her son, Eugene.
She was a generous, giving woman who over the years made many friends. She was a member of the Sacred Heart and St Pius X parishes, and involved herself in social causes helping others, such as DuPage Pads.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 4, with a Visitation from 8:30 a.m. until the time of Prayers at 9:30 a.m. at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard, thence to Sacred Heart Church, 114 S. Elizabeth St., Lombard, for 10:00 a.m. Mass. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery, Wheaton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Sierra Club, 70 E Lake Street, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60601; Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030; and Catholic Relief Services, www.crs.org.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
PATRICIA R. JARAS
Patricia R. Jaras, née Calderone, age 89, of Lombard, passed away on May 20, 2022.
She was the loving wife of the late Joseph M. Jaras Sr.; loving mother of Joseph (Rhonda) of Oswego, Dave (Pamela) of Villa Park; dear grandmother of Jeff (Julia) of Lombard, Samantha of Lombard, and Scot of Lombard; great-grandmother of Emma, Holley, and Charlotte; dear sister of Philip (Linda) Calderone of Arizona and the late Bonnie (Tom) Renk of Texas, and the fond aunt of many.
Patricia was a long-time resident of Lombard, having moved to Lombard in 1959. She had retired as an operator for AT&T. She was a long-time member of Sacred Heart Church.
A Visitation will be held on Friday, May 27, from 9:30 a.m. until Prayers at 10:30 a.m., at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main Street, Lombard. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1400 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, IL.
Memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105, are appreciated.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
THOMAS N. JONES
Thomas N. Jones, 86, of Lombard, passed away on October 15, 2021. Tom’s parents Louis E. and Mary Ruth Jones moved to Lombard in 1936 where Tom, his brother Richard and his sister Margaret were raised and the family was an active part of community. Tom was a student at Hammerschmidt Elementary School, Glenbard West High School and Scattergood School in Iowa. Tom attended the University of Chicago, where he met Anne Kay. In 1960 Tom and Anne were married. They moved to Glen Ellyn where they raised four children: Cathy, Tom, Bill and Nate.
In the 1960s, Tom worked for the U.S Postal Service as a letter carrier while wife Anne started teaching guitar lessons to interested neighbors. By the mid-1970s, Tom and Anne Jones Folk Guitar and Banjo grew to a full time business. Needing a larger space to operate, the family and music school moved to Wheaton. Anne taught guitar, autoharp and mountain dulcimer and Tom taught banjo, bass, dobro and instrument building. Daughter Cathy joined the family business as the fiddle and mandolin instructor. The name was changed to the Jones Family Music School. Tom, Anne and Cathy performed as the Jones Family String Band, bringing folk music to many local schools, libraries and community events.
In the 1980s, Tom started work as a school bus driver while continuing to teach banjo and beginning guitar as well as performing with the Jones Family String Band. In 1989 Tom and Anne moved into Tom’s family home in Lombard, where they continued to share their love of folk music with people in the communities around them through group and private lessons, sponsoring workshops and house concerts and remaining active in several local folk music organizations.
Tom and father Louis were involved in Boy Scouts, holding scout meetings in their home. Tom earned his Eagle Scout badge in his late teens. Through activities with Boy Scouts, Tom developed his interests in history, community, crafts and camping. These interests carried through to his adult life through Tom’s love of teaching and interest in wood working. He had a passion for maintaining an audio record of folks sharing their stories, interests and life experiences.
In the 1970s he started classes in building instruments from kits. Tom and Anne were introduced to the Foxfire books in the 1970s and maintained an interest in the crafts and culture of the southern Appalachian region. Many a family vacation was spent camping in the Smokey Mountains and visiting folk-life museums in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.
Tom is survived by his sister Margaret and sister-in-law Betty; his daughter Cathy; son Tom, his wife Kathy and his children Sarah and Benjamin; son Bill and his wife Caroline and their children Austin (married to Raquel) and Suzannah; son Nate and his wife Pamela and their children Wesley and Adrian.
Tom will be missed by all his family and the many lives he touched not only through music but also in his time as a letter carrier and bus driver. We take heart that he has now joined with his wife Anne, his parents Louis and Mary Ruth, his parents-in-law William and Eloise, his brother Richard and his grand-daughter Abigail, all of whom predeceased him.
The family will hold a Traditional Quaker Memorial Service for Tom on Saturday, May 28, at 11:00 a.m. Masks are required during the Memorial Service in accordance with CDC Guidelines. In addition, there will be a Music Open House and Jam Session from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to share music and remembrances of Tom and Anne and the music school. Instruments are welcome. Masks are optional for the Open House. Both events will be held at the Friends Meeting of Downers Grove located at 5710 Lomond Ave. in Downers Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donation to an organization that represents Tom’s impact on your life. Below is a list of some organizations that represent Tom’s varied interests:
Old Town School of Folk Music – www.oldtownschool.org; WBEZ (Chicago’s NPR Station) – www.wbez.org; Museum of Appalachia – www.museumofappalachia.org; Foxfire Appalachian Heritage – www.foxfire.org.
EDWARD D. SPEROTTO
Edward D. Sperotto, a life-long resident of Lombard, and a great lover of nature and animals, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2022, at the age of 73. He is survived by his only brother, Steven Sperotto, of Webster Groves, MO; and three cousins: Rose Houston, of Terre Haute, Indiana; Marilyn Guinn, of Clinton, Indiana, and Pen Garrett, of Charlotte, North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph J. and Margaret C. Sperotto.
MARIE F. STEVENTON
Marie F. Steventon, née Tomanek, age 86, of Lombard, died May 16, 2022.
Funeral Services were held on Monday, May 23, at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Interment followed at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
RAYMOND G. WASILAUSKIS
Raymond G. Wasilauskis, 86, of Lombard, passed suddenly on May 20, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Ray was born in Westville, Illinois, to Charles and Frances Wasilauskis. He was the beloved husband of 61 years to June (née Lee); loving father of Stephanie (Joseph) Batka, Sandy Wasilauskis, Patrick Wasilauskis; grandfather of Jarrett, Colton, Thomas, Peyton and David; and brother to Dorothy Babrick of Alpharetta, Georgia, and the late Earl Wasilauskis. He also had many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Ray was a U.S. Army veteran and retired member of AG communications and Local 134 IBEW.
Visitation was held on May 25, 2022, at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S Main Street, Lombard. Interment was private.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
BERNADETTE WHALEN
Bernadette Whalen, age 89, of Lombard, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 16, 2022.
A Funeral Mass was held Monday, May 23, 2022, at St. Pius X Church, Lombard. Interment followed at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.
Arrangements by Brust Funeral Home. Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
