Olga Zalazinski Obituary

I know that this is a year to late but I came across this by accident. I was reading a letter I recived from your mother after writing to her when I was a little girl. She seemed very nice and very helpful. My grandmother is Julie Rapata hilgen. We are both sorry for your guy's loss. God gives us beautiful people in our life's and one of them was your mother and I am glad i got to correspond with her.

Dear Mom..you were the very best example of a loving,giving and kind person. You're a hard act to follow! I thank you for EVERYTHING! You've done so many kind things for me.I'm happy that I had green eyes just like you. I can't wait to see you again. I love you! Your daughter Sharon

Olga (Kosach) Zalazinski was born to John and Theresa (Kraft) Kosach on February 18, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois. She lived as a child on 713 N. Ada Street, Chicago, Illinois. She was one of nine children. Her siblings were Joseph Jr. Ethel, Rudolph, Ann, John, Margaret, Lillian, and Joseph (died in WWII March 19, 1945 one month before Germany surrendered, he received a purple heart).
Eugene was born on Oct 21, 1912. His parents were, John and Pauline (Kulik) Zalazinski.
Olga attended Carpenter Elementary and Tuley High School.
Olga married Eugene Zalazinski on September 30th 1931 at St. John Cansius Church. They lived at 1365 W. Erie St. with her in-laws, John and Pauline, from 1931 to 1935. They had two children, John and Joann. They than moved to 1415 W Erie Street from 1935-1949, where Sandra, Diane, Elaine, Eugene Jr., Sharon, and Robert were born and lived in their four room, 3rd floor walk-up flat. Her and her husband, even with all the kids, “put family up” when they were “down and out”. They never said no to anyone. Her husband Eugene delivered the neighbors child because they were so poor.
Later they rented a seven room apartment at 2332 N. Maplewood, Chicago, Illinois. Their last two children, Joseph and David were born. They also took in their nephew Jerome, an orphan, who came home from the Korean war. Jerome married and had a child and lived at the Maplewood apartment. There were 15 family members living in that seven room apartment. Finally they were able to purchase a home, 2518 N. Washtenaw Avenue, a five bedroom home from 1953-2006.
Olga, was very active at St John Berchman’s Church. She went to mass daily, she cleaned the candle holders, she ironed the priests garments and purificators. She helped everyone who came to the door asking for help, she never turned anyone down. Olga never worked outside the home, she was busy taking care of her home and children, most were born at home with the help of her mother-in-law Pauline who was a midwife. Her husband Eugene supported their family during the twelve year depression with whatever job he could find. He shined shoes, washed cars, worked in a laundry. My husband fondly remembers his dad telling him and his brothers and sisters to”get the pantry shelf boards”, one board on each side of the table sitting on two chairs, the kids would sit on the boards, five on each side. Her children never noticed when they were kids, that Mom never sat down to dinner with her own plate, she always was doing something either at the stove or helping one of the kids with their food, never realizing that she didn’t eat till her family was fed, and that she ate what was left over. Her husband died on April 22, 1957, from that time on, she raised her children on her own.
Her daughter Joann was already married, her son John was soon to be married and that left her alone with eight children to raise. Her daughter Sandy was a very big help to her. She was the designated driver, she was the bookkeeper, she was her mothers right hand in everything. Can you imagine not only loosing your husband at such a young age, but with eight children living at home? All her children went to work when they were of age, to help their mom. Most of her children graduated from High School, and a few of them went to College. All of her sons were in the service, Olga was very proud of the 4 star service flag she hung in her front-room window when sons Eugene, Robert, Joseph and David served in Viet Nam. Her son John served in Korea War as well.
I will always remember my “mom” sitting in the kitchen reading her paper, there was always something cooking on the stove. She never had a receipe book, and I never saw her use a measuring cup or spoon. Her apple pies and cole slaw, fried chicken, well, they were the best. She always wanted you to sit down and eat, we always said grace at her table. No matter how many people were at her house for parties, and there were some parties! Weddings, Showers, Christmas, Birthdays, and just your average Sunday dinners, we NEVER used paper plates. How I miss those times I was the dish washer and had so many dishes to wash, I thought I’d never get done. Mom always told me to put on an apron so my outfit wouldn’t get dirty. We had so much family at these get togethers that the men ate first, the kids ate second, and than us girls would eat last. My five “sisters” and I had some good talks doing those dishes, while Mom was busy with her family. She always cried when she had to open her gifts for Christmas or Birthday, she was always so grateful.
“Mom” would ask how my family was doing, she prayed for everyone she knew, and I’m sure she named each and everyone one us in her prayers, she would be in her room with the light on for a very long time saying her prayers, no matter how tired she was. I never heard her talk bad about anyone, and she didn’t like to hear you talk about anyone else either.
I miss so much about her, the way she peeled potatoes, the way she cut up her food before eating, her smile, her prayers, she always had a kind word for everyone, the little things she sewed for the grandkids, her butter lambs at easter, her hugs, I could go on and on. She put love into each and everything she did, there was no multi-tasking when it came to her, she put her whole heart and sole into the one thing she was doing, and most of the time it was doing something for someone else other than her. Olga was the best mother in law a girl could ask for, she never took sides, she was a good listener, and most of all, her love for her family and her faith in God.
Olga is survived by nine of her ten children. John Allen (deceased), Phyllis (Sasso), Joann, (Eugene Bogdan, (deceased), Sandra , (LeRoy Seitz), Diane, (Robert Haza), Elaiine, David Mendoza), Eugene Jr., Sharon, (Anthony Mazzocchi), Robert Gary, (Diane Pinkawa), Joseph, (Alyce Zaldivar), and David.
Twenty three grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, and one great-great grand

Eloquent and articulate language can be no consolation for the sorrow felt at the passing of our beloved grandmother, great-grandmother, mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, or friend – Olga Zalazinski. Our solace lies in our individual experiences with her as we have grown up through life’s myriad of triumphs and obstacles. She lived and loved in her simple way – a way that cut through all of the superficial facades and saw each of us for who we are. She lived a difficult life, yet never complained about the inequities dealt to her, but simply kept moving forward, loving her family and friends. It has been difficult to find a person so fair and loving – in an age of egotistical, self-centered standards that seem to be unanimously accepted. Our remembrance is in our hearts and in every cell of our being. We are the living epithet that keeps her memory alive and our responsibility to her is moving forward with all of the delightful and loving traits that she represented and so dearly entrusted to us. Life is very short and we shall be together once again, but for now we press on as a family established in the foundation that she provided; life, love, forgiveness, and family. David J. Seitz, Grandson.

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.