Mae Ellen Skelnik

Mae Ellen Skelnik The funeral for Mae Ellen Skelnik (nee Morris), 82, of Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Franklin Park, will begin with prayers at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, and proceed to St. Maria Goretti Church, 10050 Ivanhoe Ave., Schiller Park, where a Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Born Jan. 7, 1921, in Memphis, Tenn., she died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003, at Cedarwood Health Care Center, Colorado Springs. Interment will be in St. Adalbert Cemetery, Niles. Grandma Skelnik worked for Jewel and Dominick's Foods for more than 30 years then, after retirement, worked for Carson's at Harlem-Irving Plaza. She volunteered at Elmhurst Hospital, and after moving to Colorado, volunteered for the Silver Key senior services. She liked sports and was a lifelong, die-hard, Cubs and Bears fan. She enjoyed cooking, reading, crocheting, gardening and especially making Thanksgiving dinner. She was a contemporary grandma with traditional values who went to church every Sunday. Most of all, Grandma Skelnik liked to be around her family and was an inspiration and role model for everyone that knew her. Survivors include her children, William T. (Karen) Skelnik of Prescott, Ariz., Karen A. (Eric) Hein of Manitou Springs, Colo., and Rich (Kim) Skelnik of Scottsdale, Ariz.; grandchildren, Tracie (Gary) Kaminsky, Tina Rooks, William Skelnik, Bradford (Danielle) Hein, Julie Hein, Suzanne (John) Hein and Erica Smith; great-grandchildren, Anthony and Matthew Kaminsky, Samantha and Nicholas Rooks and Aaron Hein; and her sisters-in-law, Irene, Ann and Dorothy Morris. She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony T. Skelnik; brothers, John, Maury, Gene and Allen Morris; and her parents, John and Ethel Morris. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home. Flowers, Masses or memorials to the Alzheimer's Association, 4709 Golf Road, Skokie, IL 60076, would be appreciated. Friends may visit www.dailyherald.com/obits to express condolences and sign the guest book. For funeral information, (847)358-7411.