Estelle Migala

1916 - 2014

1916-2014 Estelle Migala (nee Suwala), president and owner (with her family) of WCEV Radio/1450am, a Polish language broadcaster on several Chicago area stations, travel agent and Polish-American community activist, died quietly, of natural causes, at her home in Antioch, Illinois on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at the age of 98. Born on March 29, 1916 in the village of Rachwalowice in southern Poland, she spent her childhood on the family's farm in the nearby village of Sokolowice , attended school in the nearby town of Koszyce, and helped out in the general store her family owed. In 1930, she entered the five-year Pedagogical Institute of Torun in the north of Poland. She majored in history and was graduated in 1935 with a Teaching Certificate. During her student years, she was active in the Polish Girl Scouts and participated in the school's music events, often as a vocal soloist, and managed to tour nearly all of Poland. She remained in Torun for a year to study French and Latin privately and to perform with the vocal ensemble named "Those Four." In 1939, Estelle Migala moved to Warsaw to work at the Ministry of the Interior as one of Poland's first female police cadets. Her career was cut short by the outbreak of World War Two. Mrs. Migala married Joseph Migala in 1940 and had three daughters born in the city of Krakow (Cracow). The couple remained in Poland during the war and were active in the Underground Resistance Movement. After the war, in 1947, the entire family emigrated to the United States, where two more children were born in Chicago - a total of five children. In 1950 she joined her husband, Joseph, in producing and airing the Voice of Polonia Polish language program which aired for two hours, six days a week. She partnered with her husband in creating several other successful business ventures, including the California Realty and Insurance Agency in 1953, Europe Travel Bureau in 1957; and Radio Halls, Inc. Estelle Migala was very active and held offices in Polish-American organizations in Chicago. With her husband, she was the original donor and supporter of the Lira Ensemble which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary as a symphony orchestra, singers and dancers specializing in Polish music, song and dance. Mrs. Migala traveled extensively - in Western Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Far East, Mexico, as well as the continental United States and Hawaii. Estelle Migala is survived by three daughters and one son - Barbara Holtzinger, Lucyna Migala (wife of Frank Cizon), George Migala (husband of Grzazyna), Krista Dinges - as well as 6 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Visitation will take place from 10-11am at St. Ladislaus Church, 5345 West Roscoe (church entrance is on Long Avenue) followed by a funeral Mass on this Saturday, January 3, 2014. The family sincerely requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Jesuit Millennium Center, 5835 West Irving Road, Chicago, IL 60634.