BioM: Simkus, Florence (1953)
Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: Simkus, Dembowski, Shimkus, Jarski, Eicas, Mikolainis, Burzinski, Rymkus, Barowski, Malcha, Scesnewicz, O’Malley, Greforwicz, Krostinkow, Sneider

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 08/06/1953

Simkus, Florence (20 JUN 1953)

A beautiful wedding took place at Chicago, Ill., on Saturday, June 20th, 1953 at the Holy Cross Church at 10:00 o’clock Mass, when Miss Florence Simkus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Simkus, formerly of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), became the bride of Mr. Leon Dembowski, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Dembowski of Chicago, Ill. Rev. Father Benjunas performed the double ring ceremony.

The church was decorated with palms, arches, white roses and peonies. The entire church was lit for the ceremony. William Conroy, a professional tenor, was accompanied by Stanley Sodaka, the organist, and sang throughout the Mass.

The bride was escorted by her father. She wore a beautiful white gown of wheat sprays of Schiffle embroidery on nylon tulle. Cascaded over many layers of nylon net and bridal satin. Her dress had a lovely cluster draped bodice with illusion shoulder line and finger tipped sleeves, with a fitted princess waist, which swept out to reveal a glorious full train and long illusion veil, edged with imported lace and held up by a rhinestone and baby pearl crown. She also wore a handkerchief given to her by her mother, which she had worn twenty-six years ago. Her only jewelry was a string of pearls. She carried a bouquet of white roses, lily of the valley, which was embedded with a white orchid and shaped ina heart with sprays of roses sweeping out. The bride, accompanied by her sister, carried a bouquet of white roses and mums to the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary, while William Conroy sang, "On This Day Oh Beautiful Mother."

Miss Antoinette Simkus, sister of the bride, acted as maid of honor. She wore a yellow gown with lace bodice and Chinese collar. A three layer nylon tulle skirt over taffeta, was held up by two artificial yellow roses in the front and she wore a yellow braided crown of stiff net and carried a bouquet of red American Beauty roses, shaped in a heart sweeping out in a spray.

Other bridesmaids were Mary Sue Shimkus, Dorothy Jarksi, Isabelle Eicas, Janet Mikolainis, Delores, Burzinski and Geraldine Rymkus.

Juliann Dahm, friend of the bride, and Michael Sneider, cousin of the bride, acted junior couple. Julie wore an identical gown to that of the maid of honor and also carried a bouquet of red American Beauty roses.

The bridesmaids wore identical gowns to that of the maid of honor, except for the color being in light blue. They also carried a bouquet of red roses and wore a braided crown of blue net. The bridesmaids were given rhinestone necklaces and earrings, a gift of the bride.

The groom was attended by Tony Barowski, best man, and the ushers were Edward Malacha, Edward Scesnewicz, Donald O’Malley, Edward Greforwicz, Alfred Scesnewicz and Chester Krostinkow. They wore black and white tuxedos with maroon accessories and boutonniere. They each received cufflinks and a tie clip, gift of the groom.

Mrs. Michael Sneider Sr., of Thorp, Godmother of the bride, was unable to attend the wedding as she has been seriously ill. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sneider Sr., are also grandparents of the bride.

The bride’s mother wore a blue tulle net dress over taffeta, with a side panel of weaved flowers and rhinestones. Her accessories were white and she wore a corsage of yellow tea roses.

The groom’s mother wore a dark blue dress with a front yoke of net and designed with leaves of crepe material. Her accessories were dark blue and white. She wore a corsage of yellow tea roses.

A wedding breakfast was held after the ceremony for about 200 guests, at the Sokol Chicago Ballroom. Later a wedding dinner and reception were held at the same place for about 600 guests. The tables were decorated with candelabra, sprays of flowers and rows of fern laid on the main table.

Music was sung and played by Lil Wally, a radio recording artist, and his band.

The couple later cut the wedding cake of seven tiers, which was professionally styled. Three layers were built up and four swan pillars and two bells laid on a glass mirror. Laying on top of the swan pillars, were two more tiers with four plain pillars and small bells. The top consisted of two tiers and an ornament of which the bride and groom, best man, maid of honor, usher and were each represented in their natural self.

The couple departed for a honeymoon to Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), where they were welcomed by relatives and friends. They then continued their trip to Ohio, Niagara Falls and Canada. They are now residing at 4959 South Laflin St. in Chicago, Ill.

Out of town guests were Mr. and Mrs. William Urban and son Larry, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sneider Jr. and sons Michael and Tony, Mrs. Gedmon Mikolainis and daughter Janet, Mrs. Frank Burzinski, all of Thorp, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Mayer of Harvard, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Leon Klugiewicz and son Leo and daughter Jeannie, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mamayek, all of Milwaukee, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Anton Shimkus and daughter Mary Sue, of Elmwood, Park, Ill.; Mrs. Stella Stanewicz, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Rimsha of La Grange, Ill.

The bride is a graduate of Mary Roberts Beauty Culture School, and the groom is occupied at the Steel Manufacturing Co. in Chicago, Ill.