Karen Gembala

Karen Gembala (nee Tylka) passed away on June 2, 2021 at the age of 71. Karen was the wife of the late Matthew Gembala and mother of Crystalyn. She was a long-time resident of Chicago and most recently of Palatine, IL.

Karen was born on February 4, 1950, to the late John Tylka and the late Evelyn (Jarek) Tylka in Oak Park, IL. She married Matthew on October 11, 1970, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020.

Karen received her Master of Business Administration from Mundelein College. Karen volunteered at Resurrection Hospital in Chicago as a greeter. She enjoyed traveling with Matthew and especially to the Magic Kingdom in Disney World with her daughter. Karen also assisted elder family members with their finances and estate planning.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Matthew. She is survived by her daughter Crystalyn, two sisters and two brothers, and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will gather Wednesday, June 30, 2021 for visitation and memorial mass at St. Mary of the Woods Church, 7033 N. Moselle Avenue, Chicago, IL 773-763-0206. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. with mass following at 10:00 a.m. Burial to follow at Maryhill Cemetery, 8600 N. Milwaukee, Niles, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or by calling 855-448-3997.