Maria Ckuj

Maria Ckuj (nee Borowik) passed peacefully from this mortal realm on 22 May, 2018. Born in Munich, Germany to Wasilij and Helga W Borowik, she emigrated to the US as a young girl, ultimately settling in Chicago, IL. She attended Waller (Lincoln Park) High School, graduating in 1966. 

Maria married her high-school sweetheart, John-Peter, on 13 May, 1972. As a sassy young woman of the swinging seventies, she loved her job at the Prudential building, listening to Beatles records, and walking through the streets of downtown Chicago in crochet hot pants.

She was soon gifted with two of the most beautiful and dynamic daughters in the world, Erica J (Robert) Miller, and Susan D Litz (nee Ckuj.) When not shuttling them between school, dance class, music lessons, cheerleading practice, or art camp, she could be found sewing Halloween costumes, volunteering for such glamorous occasions as Bingo, Hot Dog Day, and Mandatory Lice Inspection, or doting over the numerous stray friends and neighborhood urchins that would find their way to her dinner table on any given Spaghetti Wednesday.

Maria loved spending time with her friends and puttering around in her garden. She spent hours digging through dusty thrift shops, antique stores, and flea markets, and watching cooking shows or BBC comedies on PBS. She was kind and nurturing to all and sundry, and always made sure everyone under her roof was well-fed, happy, and safe.

She is survived by her delightfully eccentric family, troublemaker friends, esteemed colleagues, generous neighbors, a veritable jungle of houseplants, and adoring fans worldwide.

Please join us as we celebrate Maria’s life this Thursday, 31 May, 2018 on what would have been her 70th birthday. Viewing will commence from 12-6:30, followed by a memorial ceremony from 6:30-7, at Cooney Funeral Home located at 3918 W Irving Park Road in Chicago.

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