Syl's Restaurant may not be where it is today without Angela Chytracek of Rockdale. In the early 1970s, Angela began working in the kitchen of the Rockdale restaurant and continued to do so for 30 years.
The foundation of Angela's admirable work ethic was laid in childhood. As one of 10 children, Angela helped her mother with the younger children and with cooking plain simple food that could economically feed a family of 12.
When she was young, she would walk up Jefferson Street to Shorewood with her siblings to work on a farm, taking care of the animals and working in the fields. At that time, Jefferson Street was just a two-lane road. She finished school through 8th grade when she went to a continuation school where she learned life skills. She then worked for a family cleaning their house. When the family moved to Minnesota, she was 16 or 17 years old, her father let her go with them.
Angela met her husband Frank while living in the St. Paul area and had one son, Michael. The family moved back to the Joliet area when Frank obtained a job working at the steel mill. Syl's became Angela's livelihood when Frank died in the 1970s, especially since Angela had no intention of remarrying.
She still considered herself married to him even though he was no longer around. She was also the kind of person who never said 'no' to anyone who needed her help and she couldn't go anywhere without bringing enough food for everyone there. That's what made her happy, making food for others.
Pigs in the blanket, cabbage rolls, potica were just a few of her specialties. During the holidays, Angela made many poticas for anyone who asked. Her recipes were either hand-written or transcribed only in her mind. She'd go to work at Syl's and say, "I need to make 18 pies today", and she knew exactly what she needed for those 18 pies.
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Angela Chytracek, age 87, at rest Monday, July 14, 2008.
Angie was an superior cook who started at Brozman's and also worked at Syl's Restaurant for over 35 years.
Angela was a Member of the CCW of St. Joseph Church, Rockdale and was nominated and accepted for three-plus years as 'Woman of the Year', school board member of the Rockdale Public School, Slovenian Women's Union and Rockdale War Mother's Organization.
Survived by her son, Michael W. (Maureen) Chytracek; grandchildren, Michael (Lisa), Marc (Cassandra), Matthew and Scott Chytracek; great-grandchildren, Colin and Reilly Chytracek and Finn Chytracek; one sister, Frances (Don) Trautner; one brother, William (Nelda) Gutnik; also survived by numerous good friends.
Angie was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Chytracek; her parents, Frank and Mary (nee Mazi) Gutnik; one sister, Mary R. (George) Vercellotti; six brothers, Frank (Veronica), Joseph (late Lee), John (Florence), Anthony, Stanley and Edward (Connie) Gutnik.
Services were held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 11:00 AM to St. Joseph Church, Rockdale.
Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery.
The foundation of Angela's admirable work ethic was laid in childhood. As one of 10 children, Angela helped her mother with the younger children and with cooking plain simple food that could economically feed a family of 12.
When she was young, she would walk up Jefferson Street to Shorewood with her siblings to work on a farm, taking care of the animals and working in the fields. At that time, Jefferson Street was just a two-lane road. She finished school through 8th grade when she went to a continuation school where she learned life skills. She then worked for a family cleaning their house. When the family moved to Minnesota, she was 16 or 17 years old, her father let her go with them.
Angela met her husband Frank while living in the St. Paul area and had one son, Michael. The family moved back to the Joliet area when Frank obtained a job working at the steel mill. Syl's became Angela's livelihood when Frank died in the 1970s, especially since Angela had no intention of remarrying.
She still considered herself married to him even though he was no longer around. She was also the kind of person who never said 'no' to anyone who needed her help and she couldn't go anywhere without bringing enough food for everyone there. That's what made her happy, making food for others.
Pigs in the blanket, cabbage rolls, potica were just a few of her specialties. During the holidays, Angela made many poticas for anyone who asked. Her recipes were either hand-written or transcribed only in her mind. She'd go to work at Syl's and say, "I need to make 18 pies today", and she knew exactly what she needed for those 18 pies.
----------
Angela Chytracek, age 87, at rest Monday, July 14, 2008.
Angie was an superior cook who started at Brozman's and also worked at Syl's Restaurant for over 35 years.
Angela was a Member of the CCW of St. Joseph Church, Rockdale and was nominated and accepted for three-plus years as 'Woman of the Year', school board member of the Rockdale Public School, Slovenian Women's Union and Rockdale War Mother's Organization.
Survived by her son, Michael W. (Maureen) Chytracek; grandchildren, Michael (Lisa), Marc (Cassandra), Matthew and Scott Chytracek; great-grandchildren, Colin and Reilly Chytracek and Finn Chytracek; one sister, Frances (Don) Trautner; one brother, William (Nelda) Gutnik; also survived by numerous good friends.
Angie was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Chytracek; her parents, Frank and Mary (nee Mazi) Gutnik; one sister, Mary R. (George) Vercellotti; six brothers, Frank (Veronica), Joseph (late Lee), John (Florence), Anthony, Stanley and Edward (Connie) Gutnik.
Services were held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 11:00 AM to St. Joseph Church, Rockdale.
Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery.
Syl's Restaurant may not be where it is today without Angela Chytracek of Rockdale. In the early 1970s, Angela began working in the kitchen of the Rockdale restaurant and continued to do so for 30 years.
The foundation of Angela's admirable work ethic was laid in childhood. As one of 10 children, Angela helped her mother with the younger children and with cooking plain simple food that could economically feed a family of 12.
When she was young, she would walk up Jefferson Street to Shorewood with her siblings to work on a farm, taking care of the animals and working in the fields. At that time, Jefferson Street was just a two-lane road. She finished school through 8th grade when she went to a continuation school where she learned life skills. She then worked for a family cleaning their house. When the family moved to Minnesota, she was 16 or 17 years old, her father let her go with them.
Angela met her husband Frank while living in the St. Paul area and had one son, Michael. The family moved back to the Joliet area when Frank obtained a job working at the steel mill. Syl's became Angela's livelihood when Frank died in the 1970s, especially since Angela had no intention of remarrying.
She still considered herself married to him even though he was no longer around. She was also the kind of person who never said 'no' to anyone who needed her help and she couldn't go anywhere without bringing enough food for everyone there. That's what made her happy, making food for others.
Pigs in the blanket, cabbage rolls, potica were just a few of her specialties. During the holidays, Angela made many poticas for anyone who asked. Her recipes were either hand-written or transcribed only in her mind. She'd go to work at Syl's and say, "I need to make 18 pies today", and she knew exactly what she needed for those 18 pies.
----------
Angela Chytracek, age 87, at rest Monday, July 14, 2008.
Angie was an superior cook who started at Brozman's and also worked at Syl's Restaurant for over 35 years.
Angela was a Member of the CCW of St. Joseph Church, Rockdale and was nominated and accepted for three-plus years as 'Woman of the Year', school board member of the Rockdale Public School, Slovenian Women's Union and Rockdale War Mother's Organization.
Survived by her son, Michael W. (Maureen) Chytracek; grandchildren, Michael (Lisa), Marc (Cassandra), Matthew and Scott Chytracek; great-grandchildren, Colin and Reilly Chytracek and Finn Chytracek; one sister, Frances (Don) Trautner; one brother, William (Nelda) Gutnik; also survived by numerous good friends.
Angie was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Chytracek; her parents, Frank and Mary (nee Mazi) Gutnik; one sister, Mary R. (George) Vercellotti; six brothers, Frank (Veronica), Joseph (late Lee), John (Florence), Anthony, Stanley and Edward (Connie) Gutnik.
Services were held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 11:00 AM to St. Joseph Church, Rockdale.
Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery.
The foundation of Angela's admirable work ethic was laid in childhood. As one of 10 children, Angela helped her mother with the younger children and with cooking plain simple food that could economically feed a family of 12.
When she was young, she would walk up Jefferson Street to Shorewood with her siblings to work on a farm, taking care of the animals and working in the fields. At that time, Jefferson Street was just a two-lane road. She finished school through 8th grade when she went to a continuation school where she learned life skills. She then worked for a family cleaning their house. When the family moved to Minnesota, she was 16 or 17 years old, her father let her go with them.
Angela met her husband Frank while living in the St. Paul area and had one son, Michael. The family moved back to the Joliet area when Frank obtained a job working at the steel mill. Syl's became Angela's livelihood when Frank died in the 1970s, especially since Angela had no intention of remarrying.
She still considered herself married to him even though he was no longer around. She was also the kind of person who never said 'no' to anyone who needed her help and she couldn't go anywhere without bringing enough food for everyone there. That's what made her happy, making food for others.
Pigs in the blanket, cabbage rolls, potica were just a few of her specialties. During the holidays, Angela made many poticas for anyone who asked. Her recipes were either hand-written or transcribed only in her mind. She'd go to work at Syl's and say, "I need to make 18 pies today", and she knew exactly what she needed for those 18 pies.
----------
Angela Chytracek, age 87, at rest Monday, July 14, 2008.
Angie was an superior cook who started at Brozman's and also worked at Syl's Restaurant for over 35 years.
Angela was a Member of the CCW of St. Joseph Church, Rockdale and was nominated and accepted for three-plus years as 'Woman of the Year', school board member of the Rockdale Public School, Slovenian Women's Union and Rockdale War Mother's Organization.
Survived by her son, Michael W. (Maureen) Chytracek; grandchildren, Michael (Lisa), Marc (Cassandra), Matthew and Scott Chytracek; great-grandchildren, Colin and Reilly Chytracek and Finn Chytracek; one sister, Frances (Don) Trautner; one brother, William (Nelda) Gutnik; also survived by numerous good friends.
Angie was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Chytracek; her parents, Frank and Mary (nee Mazi) Gutnik; one sister, Mary R. (George) Vercellotti; six brothers, Frank (Veronica), Joseph (late Lee), John (Florence), Anthony, Stanley and Edward (Connie) Gutnik.
Services were held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 11:00 AM to St. Joseph Church, Rockdale.
Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery.
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