Obituaries

Therese Joan Cihlar met her Lord on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. She was 87 years young.  

Therese was born on July 31, 1936 to Henry and Mary (Wernisch) Rolewick in Berwyn, IL.  She graduated from Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, IL with honors and won a scholarship to Northwestern University where she earned an associate’s degree in Business Management.  Therese cherished her time at Nazareth and made lasting friendships that she kept her entire life.     

Therese married Donald E. Cihlar in 1957.  They had five children together, settling in Hanover Park, IL where she became a founding member of St. Ansgar Catholic Church.  She was very active in the church and worked as Church Administrator for quite a few years; all the while raising her five children.  Here too, she forged lifelong bonds.  She also worked as a Supervisor for West Suburban Currency Exchange for over 30 years before retiring in 2007.

Therese loved family above all and enjoyed planning and spending vacations with her children and grandchildren in Wisconsin and the Texas hill country.  Her capacity to love was enormous and during these times, surrounded by her adored loved ones, lifelong memories were made. 

She lived at Heritage Woods Assisted Living facility in South Elgin, IL for the last 14 years of her life.  While there, continued to serve others by leading prayer groups, exercise classes, and assisting the memory impaired residents daily.  She was remarkably humble and hardworking through every season of life.

Therese was a bright light in everyone’s lives. She was kind, patient, and selfless. In all circumstances, she turned to God through prayer. Her family will miss her leading prayer at family gatherings and requesting to get put on her prayer list (which was notoriously successful and dozens of causes long).  She was confident and truthful and could always be trusted to give sound advice.

Most of all, Therese will be remembered as a loving matriarch and cornerstone of her family, a loyal friend to many, and a devout woman of Catholic faith.  She will be remembered for the incredible strength she exhibited throughout life’s ups and downs.  She will be remembered for her undeniable grace and caring that shone through in all of her interactions with others; be it with loved ones or strangers.  Her family and friends will miss her greatly, but feel comfort in knowing the wonderful life she lived and the positive impact she made on those who were fortunate to know her.

Therese is survived by her brother, David (Susan) Rolewick, her five children, Mary Flowers, Donna Congini, Leona (The Late Lynn) Untiedt, Mark Cihlar (Jim Kimball) and Steven (Julie) Cihlar.  She is also survived by 9 Grandchildren and 11 Great-Grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her older brother, Carl H. Rolewick.

Visitation will be Monday, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 East Main Street in St. Charles, IL.  Funeral services will be 10:30 AM at St. Patrick’s Downtown Catholic Church, 400 Cedar St., St. Charles, IL.

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