Obit: Nawrocki, Estelle (1913 - 2007)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Nawrocki, Nendza, Przybylski, Tomczak, Mickett, Moskiewicz, Resele

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI.) August 1, 2007

Nawrocki, Estelle (1913 - 19 July 2007)

A celebration of the life of Estelle (nee Nendza) Nawrocki was held on July 19, 2007 as family and friends gathered for the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Christina’s Church in Chicago. She was born in 1913 on a farm in Thorp, Wisconsin to John and Anna Nendza. She was the sister of Frances (Przybylski), Andrew, Helen (Tomczak), and Raymond.

She married Felix Nawrocki, her life long sweetheart of 70 years in Chicago in 1934. They met in Thorp when he came up from Indiana to visit friends on the farm across the road. Although their home was in Chicago, they returned to Thorp every year to visit and help on the farm during the haying season. They enjoyed a lifelong friendship with John and Rose Mickett and were honored Godparents to their daughter JoAnn (Moskiewicz), who now resides in Gilman. Although trips to Thorp ended with the death of her mother, Estelle felt blessed to be able to maintain close family ties with her nieces and nephews who live in neighboring communities, Florida, California, Colorado, and Guam.

Estelle was a beautiful example of living faith both in prayer life and in her service to others. Her volunteering included parish activities at St. Christina’s, her church for over 57 years, the Girl Scouts, her neighborhood woman’s club, Knights of Columbus, Misericordia, and anyone needing help.

She was the loving mother of Judith, and the endearing mother-in-law of Karl Resele. She was delighted in the births of her three grandchildren, Anna, Kristi, and Jonathan. She was actively involved in their lives, giving them many fond memories.

She bore the death of her only son, Robert, a marine serving in Vietnam, with quiet dignity and grace; and with that same quiet dignity and grace, she accepted hospice care and death. She leaves behind a legacy of love and humble service. She will be missed by all who knew her.