James Matusiak

James Stanley Matusiak (Jim) passed away in Advocate Lutheran General Hospital on November 9 at the age of 74 years. He is survived by his sisters Adrienne Massel and Constance, nieces MaryTherese Boldt (Steven) Marydanielle Kitts (Karl), Susan Covill, nephews Matthew Massel and David Covill. He was predeceased by his sister Barbara Covill. Jim has four loving great nieces and nephews, Austin, Delaney, Ben and Emily. Jim was born in Berwyn, Illinois, to Barbara (Rimo) and Stanley Matusiak on February 22, 1945. He lived all his life in the family home on the Northwest Side of Chicago. He attended St. Priscilla Grade School and St. Patrick High School. Jim’s work experience began when he caddied as a teen. He went on to sales work with Sears Roebuck and he eventually became a teamster in Local 714 at Chicago’s McCormick Place where he worked for more than 20 years until his retirement. When his sisters in adult years went off in different life directions, Jim remained in the family home sharing adult loving companionship with his parents. After his father died Jim and his mother cared for each other, and his mother was able to live her later years in the home she loved. With his mother gone, Jim was contented to remain in the family home, sharing it with his beloved yellow lab Orion and in later years his black lab Jesse. He was a loyal union man. He loved sports and Notre Dame football and the New York Yankees. Yankee love came about through his father who grew up in New York. Jim cared about the environment. He enjoyed wildlife and changing seasons and night star gazing on frequent visits to a cabin up north. At home he liked to feed the birds. He celebrated holidays and especially loved Christmas. He decorated the house inside and out. His unique offering to the annual family Christmas dinner was a delicious fruitcake, following a recipe from Chicago Mayor Daley’s wife that was published in the Chicago Tribune years ago. Jim’s mother first made the fruitcake and it became a family tradition Jim carried on. After he retired Jim spent his mornings with a pot of coffee and the Chicago Trib. Known for his friendliness, any nice day found him on his large front porch greeting and chatting with neighbors. He was funny. He liked to laugh. He was also opinionated. He valued friends and even had life-long friends from grade school. Family, friends and neighbors meant everything to him. Life was better with Jim in it. He was a good man. Family, friends and neighbors will truly miss him. Memorial Visitation Saturday November 23 from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m. with a remembrance service at 1:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the National Park Foundation, The Anti-Cruelty Society or the Humane Society. For information: 708-456-8300 or www.cumberlandchapels.com