Obituary of Ann Honiotes

Ann I. Honiotes (nee Kochalka) Anna "Ann" I. Honiotes, age 92, died peacefully at Our Lady of Angels in Joliet under the watchful eye of their caring staff, especially her special caregiver, Ashley and Joliet Area Community Hospice. Born in Joliet on May 15, 1922 in the home of her parents, Joseph and Mary Kochalka above their neighborhood grocery store on Garnsey Avenue. She met the love of her life, Andrew J. Honiotes at the St. Thaddeus Church bazaar when she was 16 years old . Four years later, in July 1942, they eloped and were married by an army chaplain at Chanute Field in Rantoul, IL. Although her parents were immigrants from Slovakia and his from Greece, they proved that true love would overcome any cultural boundaries like the movie script from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Andy died in 2003 just shy of their 61st wedding anniversary. She shared stories of playing barefoot in the snow as a child, learning to drive in her father's grocery delivery truck at age 14 and riding her bicycle to the far west side of Joliet to see Andy when they were dating because "he and his brothers worked 16 hours a day" on the Honiotes family truck farm at Troy Rd. and Midland Avenue. Weeks after they were married, Andy went overseas with the U.S. Army Air Corps. She attended dressmaking school by train in Chicago until Andy returned from Europe nearly 3 years later at the end of the war in 1945. Those skills she learned would be perfected during her lifetime making many of her own clothes, all the draperies in their home, Halloween costumes and countless alterations for family and friends. Her greatest joy was cooking and baking for her family and friends. Her signature treat was the traditional Slovak "Rozki" cookies she learned to make from her mother. We estimate she may have made nearly a million of them in her lifetime. She was a lifetime member of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church Altar and Rosary Society, Homemakers and a lifetime member of the PTA. She was an active member of the "Lady Lions" and later in life she became a full member of the Joliet Noon Lions Club and was awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones award for her service - following in the footsteps of her late husband, Andy. Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Andy; her infant son, Joseph; her parents; and siblings, Joseph, Mary (Jenco), Margaret (DeSalvo), Louis, Benedict, Elizabeth (Capista) and Francis "Kelly" Kochalka. She is survived by her three sons, John Jos. (Bobbi), Andy Jr. (Elaine) and Bill (Mary) Honiotes; grandchildren, Amy, Melissa, Amanda, and Andy Honiotes; Jason (Ting), Tyler, and Sydney Rice; three great-grandchildren, Allison, Sarah, and Isabella; and countless cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral Services for Ann Honiotes will be Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 9:15 a.m. from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations to Our Lady of Angels would be greatly appreciated. Visitation Wednesday, 3-7 p.m. at the funeral home. For information: 815741-5500.