Marie Lou Babak, 78, passed away peacefully in Kenosha at United Health – St. Catherine’s Medical Center on Monday, April 1, 2008. Marie was born in Cudahy on March 19, 1930 to the late Louis and Barbara (nee: Blum) Babak. A graduate of Greenwood High School, she went on to earn a teaching certificate from Union Grove Normal School and, later, her bachelor of arts from Dominican College. Teaching was truly her passion. Marie taught third grade at St. Lucy Catholic School in Racine for nearly 30 years. She was also so tirelessly involved as a leader with the Girl Scouts for over 30 years. Among her interests, she enjoyed bowling with the Sturtevant Women’s League, supporting the Racine Explorer Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, collecting anything to do with frogs, and was a Disney fanatic. Above all, she cherished and treasured being in the surroundings of her entire family. Surviving are her loving daughter, Barbara Babak; sister, Dorothy Chaffee; brother, Albert (Eileen) Babak; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Babak and Marilyn Eaton; nephews and nieces, Lynn (Kathy) Chaffee, Paul (Pat) Chaffee, Michael Chaffee, Bruce (Jean) Chaffee, Mark (Suzanne) Chaffee, Tony (Holly) Chaffee, Randy Chaffee, Debbie Chaffee, Sue Ellen (Gary) Voss, Alois Babak, Judy Sheets, Therese (Mark) Schmidt, Clifford (Kathy) Babak and Sally (Kurt) Gehr; many special great-nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends too numerous to mention by name. In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death by her brother, Alois Babak; brother-in-law, Robert Chaffee; sister-in-law, Jenny Babak; and special uncle, Joe Maruna. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home, 4600 County Line Rd., on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 10:30 am with Rev. Mark R. Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 am. A heartfelt note of thanks to the entire staff of St. Catherine’s Medical Center ICU, especially to nurse George Fitzgerald, for the compassionate care and support that was so warmly extended during our time of need.
Mert Fleury says
My condolences to Marie’s Family.
Marie not only taught my three children at St. Lucy’s, she was also my bowling buddy. We bowled on the same team for many years. At the end of the 1990-91 season, Marie ‘retired’ from bowling. Our League, the Sturtevant Women, gave her an award for being a member of the league for 35 years. She had a 137 average when she left. She was Secretary of the league for many of those 35 years. At that time, her nephew, Mark Gaffee, managed Little Copenhagen Bakery, and he sponsored our team.
Marie and I kept in touch every Christmas, and she always had a little note in the card asking about my bowling.
Rest in peace, Dear friend,
Mert Fleury