Friday, March 9, 2007
Obituary Charles Joseph Szostak
Charles (Carl) Joseph Szostak, age 81, died on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. He is survived by his wife Generose (Snarski). He was born in North Chicago on November 4, 1925, and lived there until moving to Highland Lake in 1990. He was married on September 8, 1951 at Holy Rosary Church in North Chicago now known as Queen of Peace. He was a devoted husband for 55 years.

Charles was in the Army Infantry Division 178th Combat Engineer Battalion during WWII. He was a member of the North Chicago American Legion. He worked at Fansteel Metallurgical Corporation as a machinist for 20 years and also for the North Chicago School District #64 as a maintenance man for 25 years until his retirement in November 1990.

He volunteered for Meals on Wheels for Catholic Charities and in his retirement years spent many hours working on projects for his children and grandchildren. Charles made rosaries giving them to anyone who would like them. He enjoyed kayaking on Highland Lake, fishing and spending time at his private camp (Camp Cadillac) with his grandchildren every summer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Mary Szostak and 2 brothers Larry (Esther) & Edward (Germaine) Szostak. Surviving is his sister, Jean Belski and two brothers Raymond (Lillian) and George (Eva) Szostak.

He is survived by his 5 daughters: Rosemarie Szostak & John Johnson, Covington, GA; Carlene Szostak & Clifford Lavin, Doylestown, PA; Maryann & Ralph Wolf, Las Vegas, NV; Charlotte & Daniel McLaughlin, Cumming, GA & Madeline & Thomas Hoge, Mason, OH. His grandchildren are: John David & Johnna Johnson; Michael & Rachael Lavin; Phillip & Eric Ricardo; Joseph Tyler, Thomas Peyton & William Mason Hoge; Carlie & Shannon McLaughlin.

Funeral services are scheduled at 11:00am Monday March 12, 2007 at St. Gilbert Church, Grayslake with Father Ron Folger officiating. Friends may call on Sunday, March 11, 2007 from 2-5 at the Salata-Gurnee Funeral Home, 4190 Old Grand Ave, Gurnee, Il. Burial will be at Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to St. Gilbert Church or a charity of your choice in his memory. For more information, please call 847-244-1155.
posted by Carlene @ 12:20 PM   0 comments
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Carl is now walking with St. Joseph
For those of you that we were unable to reach today this blog post is to let you know of the passing of Charles (Carl) Szostak this morning around 1am CST.

For those that are in town we welcome you to join us at his wake to celebrate his 81 wonderful years and the legacy he has left here on earth. The wake is being held on Sunday, March 11 at Salata's Funeral Home in Gurnee (off old grand ave) from 2pm to 5pm.

In addition there will be a mass on Monday, March 12 at St. Gilberts Church at 11am.

In lieu of flowers a donation to either St. Gilberts Church or your favorite charity would be appreciated. However, the most valuable "gift" anyone can give is the continued love, prayers and support of our Mom, Generose. It is your continued prayers, kind words and love that you have bestowed on Carl and Generose over their lifetime and especially over these last few months that have been priceless...thank you.
posted by Carlene @ 3:07 PM   2 comments
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Tuesday
It started out to be a fairly good morning and lunch went okay but right after lunch Carl got real tired and wanted to lay in his bed, which he does on occasion. He stayed in bed all afternoon and even wanted his dinner in bed. Carl was quite chilled and I gave him 2 blankets to keep him warm and that didn't seem to help. The roommate was diagnosed yesterday with a bug of some sort so maybe he got one too. I even felt achy this evening so I immediately took some cold tablets.

Plans are being made to bring him home on Friday. His furniture will arrive first and then the nurse will meet us at home. He will be transported by an ambulance, as that is how they do it in his condition. Right now I don't know the time but I should know any day now as Friday isn't that far away.

He will be at home under Hospice and they will handle everything from then on.

Looking forward to see his condition tomorrow morning.

Generose
posted by Generose @ 6:25 PM   0 comments
Monday, March 5, 2007
Monday & ULA
I picked up Ula (sp?) this morning and it looks as though she will work out fine. We exchanged pictures of our families and feel like we know one another. If ever we talk on the phone and I start talking Polish to you, please understand as I am speaking more of that language each day.

Carl got a shower from 2 students today and they enjoyed trying on his hairpiece. Carl even got a kick out of them doing it. The shower felt good and they said they would do give him a shower again tomorrow. He wasn't too sure if he could do therapy today as he felt tired but Maria, the physical therapist, knows how to talk to him and got him doing much therapy in bed. She really knows how to persuade Carl.

His visitor today was Lou Bunk and I even got a picture of him with Carl but still no results in getting the pictures off my internal memory. If I have a chance tomorrow I may stop at a camera shop to get it remedied.

If anything, I should have a clean house and I guess she likes to cook too. I am sure when Carl comes home Ula will be plenty busy trying to make Carl happy. I do hope he won't be too demanding on her. It isn't everyone who has two women in their house.

From the looks of things he will be home on Friday instead of what I thought would be Thursday. He probably will be coming home with a medi-van. Thanks Bill and George for your offer of meeting him at our home but at this time it doesn't appear to be necessary.

Generose
posted by Generose @ 6:28 PM   0 comments
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Sunny Sunday
It was a wonderful Sunday. Started to day with Mass at St. Gilbert's Church and then by 9:00 am off to the Spa/rehab/Victory Lakes. It was a busy one with a Communion Service for Carl; nebulizer treatment and our own therapy. He claims he ate well for breakfast and I know he did for lunch and dinner.

We had several different people that came to visit. First of all, it was Bill & Debbie (George's son & his wife); then Donna F. & Ed Dudek; and his brother George & Eva later in the afternoon. George was kind enough to shave Carl and it made him feel so good & even more handsome.

We had a great visit with all. Bill offerred to help if I needed someone at this end to take him out of our vehicle, if that is how he would be coming home. I think they will transport him in a van but I probably won't know until Tuesday. The assessment or evaluation will take place Tuesday and I should have some of my questions answered.

I still am having trouble getting the pictures from the internal drive but when I get that resolved there will be many pictures sent to the gallery in the blog. Hopefully it won't be too long before I accomplish that.

Tomorrow morning I pick up my caregiver for Carl so it should be an interesting day to see how compatible we all are. I already started writing some things in Polish on my cleaning supplies. I also need her to help me move some things into the attic to make some extra room on the living level of this house.

Generose
posted by Generose @ 6:08 PM   0 comments
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Getting ready to come home
Carl is thinking about his coming home and I told him that it still looks like Thursday, March 8th. He is trying so hard to use his voice so that it is more than a whisper. His appetite is very good and even his snacks he is consuming.

On Tuesday we are suppose to have an evaluation or assessment and see what his home needs are.

On Monday I am still planning on picking up a caregiver who will help get things ready for Carl's arrival home. She will be needed as I can't move some of the things myself.

Today a visit was paid by Lillian and Hank Trygar and that was much needed. I even took pictures but somehow I can't get them off my internal memory. Perhaps it is getting too late in the evening and I'm not thinking clearly. I will try again tomorrow. I also took a picture of the lovely African violet and other plants that Kneecap and Doug sent. You know who you are and Carl much appreciates it, as it cheered him up. It arrived as I left for an hour to pick up my Actonel prescription and he was so happy to show them to me.

Generose
posted by Generose @ 7:40 PM   0 comments
Friday, March 2, 2007
Count down
It looks as though next Thursday, March 8th is the day. Perhaps on Tuesday we will have an evaluation of our needs at home. Tonight I was cleaning our drawers and closet for the live-in that should come on Monday. No, I didn't clean the house only made room so that she feels the guest room is her space. I still do have things in there because I don't know where to hide them. I have not met her but hoping that we are compatible. I'm not even sure if her name is OLA or not. I pick her up on Monday morning in Waukegan. I have my Polish dictionary out so that I will be able to communicate with her.

Carl was assessed in the room with the therapists (physical & occupational). He did quite well. They wanted to be sure that he can do some things by himself and I guess he passed. Now for the real thing when he comes home. His meals today were ample for him but I guess the hardest thing for him is to eat very slowly so that he doesn't choke. I am there encouraging him to take small bites and a drink of the thickened stuff (milk, water, juice, soup or whatever) and then a dry swallow.

Carl still has a sore bottom but we are trying to remedy it with ointment, strategically trying to put the pillow in the right place in the wheelchair and anything that he wants to make him comfortable.

His 13"TV that was brought by Tom Belski has been such a blessing because he can watch what he wants in his room, even though the one in the great room is such a large screen but we don't want to change the channel too often.

No pictures taken today. Check the gallery for any that you might have missed.

Generose
posted by Generose @ 8:13 PM   0 comments
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