Cecelia "Celia" T. Chudzik

Cecelia "Celia" Teofila Chudzik (Kopacz) of Waukesha, WI, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, at the age of 96. Celia was born Oct. 5, 1918, in Chicago, Ill., the youngest of three children to Michael and Teofila (Ogonek) Kopacz. She grew up in Chicago, where she met and later married Stanley Chudzik. "Devoted" best describes Celia and the life she lived, deeply committed to her faith, family and friends, and always putting others first. She was a devoted wife to her husband Stanley for more than 50 years and a committed caregiver to him for more than 10 years. Celia was a loving mother to her son, Jerome, and she extended that love to his wife, Lynn, and their five children. She was a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother. She cherished caring for her grandchildren when they were young, and later spending countless hours at school functions and sports events, supporting and cheering on her grandchildren and great grandchildren. A devoted friend, Celia treasured her relationship with her special friend, Jenny Sawyer; the friendships she developed through family and her water exercise classes at the Waukesha YMCA; as well as her newer friendships formed at the Avalon Manor. Above all, however, Celia was deeply spiritual and devoted to God. She was a longtime member of St. Mary's Church (55 years), a regular at mass, prayed the rosary daily and enjoyed tuning into the Catholic channel for further inspiration and devotion. Celia will be deeply missed by her family - her son, Jerome; her five grandchildren -Eric (Elizabeth) Chudzik; Jennifer (Scott) Smith; Bridget (James) Boyle; Christopher (Melissa) Chudzik; and Laura (Andrew) Geisler; her 11 great grandchildren - Lia Chudzik; Morgan and Madison Smith; Brendan, Brady and Connor Boyle; Cody and Mason Chudzik; and Abigail, Maggie and George Geisler; her beloved sister-in-law Mary Kopacz; other loving members of her extended family - cousins, nephews, nieces, godchildren and dear friends. Celia was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley, brother Frank Kopacz and sister Victoria (Kopacz) Hametta. A visitation to celebrate Celia's life will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the 12 - Noon Mass of Christian Burial, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Ave. in Waukesha, WI. The Rev. Howard Haase will be officiating. Entombment will immediately follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Waukesha, WI. Memorials in honor of Celia may be given to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 3333 N. Mayfair Road #107 Wauwatosa, WI 53226 or masses in her honor.