Elaine Rudnicki
Elaine Rudnicki, age 82, passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of November 29, 2021. Elaine was born on January 13, 1939, in Chicago, IL to Albert and Irene Dybas.
Elaine married Eugene (Gene) Rudnicki on January 21, 1961, after they met as students at Loyola University Chicago. Over their 60 years of marriage, Elaine and Gene lived together primarily in Arlington Heights, IL and Inverness, IL and as part-time residents in Galena, IL. For several years, Elaine and Gene led Pre-Cana sessions together on behalf of the Chicago Archdiocese.
Elaine was the devoted mother to Michael Rudnicki (Tish) and Deborah Wilson, nee Rudnicki, (Richard) the beloved sister to Diane Cowan Weathersbee (Jim), and Joan Schnieders (Jim) and the cherished (and proud) grandmother to Kelly Wilson (James Gilligan, Fiancé), Mike Wilson (Sarah), Tim Russo (Morgan), and Chris Rudnicki (Madeleine Haff).
Elaine graduated from Loyola’s School of Nursing in 1960 and had a fulfilling career as a nurse that spanned over 50 years. As a nurse, Elaine was a Certified Medical Case Manager, an ER nurse at Northwest Community Hospital, and the founder of the Chicago chapter of the Rehabilitation Insurance Nurses Group. She was also the founder and owner of Associates for Medical and Vocational Rehabilitation, a nursing care business, which she managed for 35 years. In the words of several spouses of Elaine’s patients, she was “an angel sent by God.”
Elaine’s life was full of meaningful friendships. She remained very close with her sisters, Diane and Joan, and whenever the three of them were together the sound of laughter could be heard. The close friendships of Barbara Camden Delaney RN, Charles Osweiler, and Ron & Peg McGovern meant so much to Elaine through the years of college, marriage, growing families and loss.
Throughout her life, Elaine’s children and grandchildren kept her happy and busy with family holidays, graduations, sporting events, and weddings. She loved her family, friends, travel, and the finer things in life. Elaine’s favorite destinations were Maui, Galena, and the Cotswolds, England. Her favorite restaurant was Lawry’s Prime Rib in Chicago, and her favorite drink was a Beefeater Gin on the rocks with two blue cheese olives, which she enjoyed in the evening with Gene.
She will be missed by those who knew and loved her. Her beautiful, warm, and comforting smile will be missed by all.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 12 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Smith-Corcoran Palatine Funeral Home, 185 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067. All are welcome.
A brief visitation and mass will be held on Monday, December 13 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2515 W Palatine Rd, Inverness, IL 60067. The morning visitation will commence at 9:30 AM and will be followed immediately by mass at 10:30 AM. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, Chicago at www.mercyhome.org
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