Obit: Filipiak, Sophie (1927 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Filipiak, Iwaniec, Smagacz, Ziolkowski, Durkin, Nowak, DeMoor, Stack, Wollner, Tokich, Martens, Tomsyck

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) 5/19/2013

Filipiak, Sophie (22 April 1927 - 30 May 2013)

Sophie Filipiak, 86, of Chicago entered eternal life May 30, 2013, surrounded by her children and prayer. She was born April 22, 1927, in Pray, Jackson County, Wisconsin to Frank and Victoria (Iwaniec) Smagacz, the fifth of seven children. She left the farm in her early 20s to travel to Chicago to work. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Joseph Filipiak and shared 48 wonderful years with him. Sophie was the loving mother of Shirley (Gary) Ziolkowski, Andrew (Diane L. Durkin), Susan (Ron) Nowak, Joseph (Robin), Sandra (Joe) DeMoor, Sharon (Tom) Stack, Sylvia (Mary) Wollner and Sally Tokich; She was a beloved “Bushi” to grandchildren Andrew, Madelyn, Mitch, Brenden, Nicholas, David, Julie, Kathryn, Danny, John, Sarah, Carly, Sophie, Claire and Jennifer and was looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild. She was a beloved sister of Frank (Gerry) Smagacz, sister-in-law of Rosemarie Smagacz, and fond aunt and great aunt to many nieces and nephews.

She was united in heaven with her husband Joe, her grandson, Danny, her parents, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Louis and Barbara Smagacz, Stanley and Lorraine Smagacz and Joseph Smagacz, and sisters-and brothers-in-law, Helen and Harry Martens and Josephine and Donald Tomsyck.

Visitation was held Sunday, June 2, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. A prayer service was held Monday, June 3, at 9:15 a.m., all at Parkside Chapel. Mass followed at St. Jane de Chantal Church with interment in Resurrection Cemetery in Chicago.

Sophie was a member of St. Jane de Chantal Church, Ladies Guild, Choir and Senior and Ladies Auxiliary Marvin Seemann-Garfield Ridge American legion Post #1112.

She loved people and had many friends. She always found something good to say about everyone. She had a smile that would light up her face, and she used that smile often. Sophie loved feeding the birds and squirrels, drinking Dunkin Donuts coffee, gardening, cooking, baking, coming home frequently to stay at “the farm,” attending the annual Smagacz family picnics, and most importantly, she loved her family and her faith. She was proud of her heritage, held fast to traditions and made sure she had passed those traditions to the new generations. Holidays were always magical times in her home. Pierogi Days were arranged to get her family all together in preparation for the Christmas holiday feast. Easter was time for borsch, smoked sausage, colored eggs and blessing of the baskets.

Sophie’s legacy was her family, and her gift to us all passing along the values she had learned while growing up to be grateful for what you have, enjoy simple pleasures, to be kind to one another, how to share and love with all your heart.