Obituary of Wanda Wall-Ceglarek

Wanda Wall-Ceglarek (Gawenda) Age 86, of Joliet, passed away Friday, February 5, 2016 at her home, with her family at her side after a brief illness. Wanda was born May 17, 1929 in Swieta Wola, Poland and was uprooted with her family to Siberia at the start of the war. From there her life journey included spending several years in India, Rhodesia and Persia, finally settling in England where she met her first husband, Thaddeus Gawenda. They emigrated to the United States aboard the Queen Mary in the mid-1950s. Thaddeus died in 1968. She later married Frank Wall in 1974, and together they operated the International Inn Tavern on Hickory Street from 1981 until their retirement in 1992. Frank died soon after the sale of the business. In 1998, she married Stefan Ceglarek and they enjoyed their retirement years together until his passing suddenly in 2015 while visiting Poland. Wanda was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She will be remembered for her lovliness and kindness to all. She loved to travel and her cooking was enjoyed by many. She was a member of the former St. Thaddeus Parish and a current member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Surviving are her devoted daughters, Ann (Al Baumbach) Gawenda of Plainfield, and Sofia (the late Adam) Napora of Elk Grove Village; one grandson, Nicholas (Jessica Carbone) Palumbo of Huntington, NY; one great-granddaughter, Olivia Palumbo; and an extended family in both Poland and England. Funeral services for Wanda Wall-Ceglarek will be held Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 10:15 a.m. from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet to Holy Cross Catholic Church for Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials in her name to Angel's Grace Hospice would be appreciated. Visitation will be TUESDAY MORNING from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.