Theresa Gerkitz

OTTAWA -- Theresa A. Gerkitz, 89, of Ottawa, died Saturday, Oct. 13, at her home. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Louis Demontfort Church in Oak Lawn with the Rev. Mark Canavan officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Ottawa Funeral Home with prayers at 5 p.m. Mrs. Gerkitz was born July 6, 1918, in Chicago, to Leonard and Zeitel (Graf) Stubenfoll. She married Edward J. Gerkitz in February 1940 in Chicago. He died in July 1969. She was a store clerk in Community Department stores in Chicago. She is survived by three sons, Edward Jr. of Thompson, Ga., Richard (Eva) of Phoenix, Ariz., and Raymond (Janice) of Ottawa; 12 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. 2 Sisters, Betty Strouse, Rose Pierson, 2-Brothers Carl and Leonard Stubenfoll She was preceded in death by one son, Joseph; one daughter, Theresa Przytula; two grandsons, Dustin and Ricky Gerkitz; and her stepmom, Gisella Stubenfoll. Pallbearers will be Ray Jr., Edward Jr., Scott, David and Russell Gerkitz, Frank Kowalik and Frank Jr. and Joseph Przytula. Memorials may be directed to the family.