Czesława Lendzion

Czesława Lendzion was born Czesława Lignowska on November 29, 1926, in the village of Bielawy, Poland. She was the eldest daughter of Władysław and Stanisława, sister to Henia and Teresa. She was a wife to her husband Mieczysław, mother to Barbara and Roman, grandmother to Lisa and Lynn, and great-grandmother to Zachary. She was an aunt to Sławek, Marek, Darek, and Gosia. While her education was shortened due to the War, her fortitude and perseverance carried her through a life rich in family, friendships, and faith. Grandma was a devoted Catholic whose claim to fame was meeting Pope John Paul II not once, but twice.

Following in my great-grandfather Josef Lendzion's footsteps to the United States in 1913, my grandma and grandpa escaped communism in Poland, arriving in Chicago in 1959 with the rest of the family arriving in 1960. She took up work at O'Brien brothers as a seamstress. She made many of Lynn's and my outfits as children. I'm wearing a dress she made me for New Year's in 1991. My grandparents were your stereotypical Polish immigrants who were homeowners and paid for everything in cash.

Grandma embraced her new American culture, learning English very willingly, attending night school after long days in her factory. After grandpa passed away in 1990, grandma learned to drive, and continued to return to renew her license into her 90's. In 1995 grandma became an American citizen.

Grandma's destiny as a survivor endured a breast cancer diagnosis, the passing of her husband, my parents in 2007, both of her sisters, and many, many of the friends she made after settling in America. Even as her friend's group dwindled, grandma's phone continued to ring on a regular basis with all the latest gossip. She was an active member of Polonia Club at St. Constance in Chicago, up to the point she was unable to drive herself to meetings. Grandma and grandpa saw much of the world together, with trips back home to Poland, Alaska, Canada, Israel, Italy, and China to name just a few destinations. After grandpa left us, grandma continued to travel with trips coordinated through her church.

I was able to get a few more stories out of grandma more recently. I learned that she made my father's mother Anne and her sister Helen their outfits for my mother's wedding. I laughed at tales grandma told of my mother and uncle fighting as children, especially him drinking her weekly allotment of orange juice and refilling it with water.

After moving to Virginia almost 25 years ago, my sister and I visited as often as we could. On the occasions that we had access to a car, we took grandma for drives to Harlem-Irving Plaza, to see Christmas lights in Rosemont, to visit friends all throughout Chicagoland, and get her favorite Filet o'Fish sandwiches at McDonald's. A couple of her favorite phrases to use with Lynn and I included, "my door is always open", and "you will never be hungry" (in her house).

Grandma's strength regaled us all the way up to Easter Sunday, when we were informed that she wasn't feeling well. Her mind fought hard in her last few weeks, until eventually her poor little body gave out.

Please don't feel badly that this strong, wonderful woman has left us, be glad that you had the privilege of knowing and loving her as we did.The greatest compliment Czesława Lendzion could ever ask for is to keep her memory alive through the stories of your time together.

Visitation for Czesława will take place on Monday, April 27, 2026 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, Il. The funeral will take place the following day, begininng at the funeral home at 9:00 am and then proceed to St. Constance Church (Mary, Undoer of Knots Parish) for 10:00 am Mass. Interment will follow at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, Illinois.