Monthana Szewczyk

Przewin w dól, aby zobaczyc nekrolog w jezyku tajskim i polskim.

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Monthana Szewczyk, (aka "Lae"), 74, of Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood, passed away November 9, 2025, ten weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Monthana was one of ten children born in Ban Na San, Surat Thani Province, Thailand, to a couple who owned a pharmacy. She earned her Applied Associate's degree in Commerce from Penang College and was proud to have served as Executive Secretary to the CEO of Nissan/Datsun in Bangkok. In 1983, she came to the U.S. with her sister and found work in the accounting department of Allied Golf Company (later Wittek Golf Company), where they manufactured golf clubs. Monthana retired from Allied/Wittek at the age of 65. In 1997 she went into partnership with her husband when he founded Walter's Driving School. Monthana of course ran the books and managed the finances.

One day at work, Monthana was on her way to her usual lunch spot with her sister Sririsri and was surprised to find a young man sitting in her chair. Walter, a recent immigrant from Poland who came to the U.S. as a professional horse jockey, and barely spoke English. Walter claims to have asked Monthana out on a date at least thirty times and at least thirty times she avoided him with a polite "Ok! See you tomorrow!"

Finally, she allowed him to drive her home one day, and they stopped off at Brown's Chicken for a quick bite to eat. It was another few weeks before she accepted a second ride home from him. Their first official date was to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, a site they revisited often over the years along with walks in the park and along the lake. Several more dates followed before Monthana had to suddenly help cook in her sister's Thai restaurant in Florida for one month. Walter was bereft. Shortly upon her return, Walter was sent to Domino Horse Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. Before he left, he took Monthana to dinner and presented a diamond and white gold ring. Monthana asked. "Is this an engagement ring?" Walter blushed "It's a memory." Monthana said "So it *is* an engagement ring." Walter: "Yes".

After three months in Kentucky, Walter abandoned his horse jockeying career to return to the woman with whom he'd fallen in love. Monthana's entire family welcomed him back, even setting him up with a bedroom at her brother Narin's apartment. Narin and Walter are still best friends, but at the time, Walter didn't want to put pressure Monthana, so he moved into another friend's house. Soon thereafter, the couple moved in together "to try it out." Walter overstayed his tourist and work visas several times and Monthana often joked that he wanted to marry her only for citizenship. To prove her wrong, Walter never took a green card and was instead granted citizenship by President Reagan (beating the amnesty deadline by two days). On March 22, 1986 they married in a secret ceremony in Chicago's City Hall. That evening, they shared a petite bottle of champagne, as Monthana did not really tolerate alcohol. Monthana and Walter kept their secret as long as they could, for fear of clash between the Polish Catholic and Thai Buddhist cultures. Eventually her family figured out that she was married.

Monthana and Walter enjoyed dim sum with her family and also dining at Olive Garden and Red Lobster and watching "Little House on the Prairie" Although they never visited each other's country of origin, they traveled around the United States to Yellowstone National Park, Montana, Mackinaw Island, Wisconsin, and particularly enjoyed the drive to Canada through Holland, Michigan (for the tulips) and Niagara Falls. In the mid-90's Monthana and her husband took her entire family skiing in Wisconsin. Many of her relatives had never seen snow before. They raised an adorable and obstinate Miniature Pinscher named Pigus (aka "Piggy"). Walter will never forget the time Monthana and Piggy were attacked by a feral cat. Piggy went running with his leash attached and Monthana followed in hot pursuit.

Monthana found beauty in flowers and nature. She grew Japanese plums, peaches, lilacs, raspberries and roses, and also the last apples of the season to come to fruition. Monthana took care of the bushes and Walter took care of the trees and also sent his wife photos of their garden bounty when she was away in Thailand.

Monthana always looked younger than her chronological age and took good care of herself, exercising and walking. She was extremely considerate of others and was very close with her siblings and their families and returned to Thailand every two years for extended visits. Several sisters came to Chicago in the past months to care for Monthana as she fought cancer.

She was modest, quiet, gentle, and always hesitant to bother anyone. Even at the end of her life, she worried more about her husband than her own self. Two days before she passed, Walter presented her with a gorgeous, carefully chosen anniversary ring, intended for their 40th wedding anniversary and vow renewal next March. Walter slid the ring on her finger and it was a perfect fit. The night before she died, Walter picked Monthana out of her own bed, placed her in his, and lay down next to her for a minute. She put her arm around him for a few minutes, but sensing she needed more space, he moved to the floor next to her. Monthana passed away several hours later at Resurrection Hospital's Emergency Room. Over the years, Monthana would leave for Thailand for five months at a time, but Walter always knew she was coming back. Sometimes you never know how much you love someone until you lose them.

Montana was the adored wife of 39 years of Waldemar "Walter" Szewczyk; the dear sister of Suchin (Manop) Saengkul, Lunchin (Pracha) Rathavinit, Parinda (Kongsak) Marompon, Sutee (Marc) Rousseau, Narin Rutirasiri, Sunan (Narit) Siridhab, Sririsri (Pedro) Castaneda, and Hongjin Rutirasiri; and the loving aunt of Dr. Peris Castaneda (whom she helped raise) and many other nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by nephew Janson "Peter" Castaneda, brother Chalit "Charlie" (Varunee) Rutirasiri, and parents Wong Chun and Kuihian Lee.

Funeral service (with Buddhist rites and Catholic prayers), Friday, November 14, 10am (cremation begins onsite at 11am) at Bohemian National Cemetery Chapel. 5255 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60630. Prayers to follow at Wat Phrasriratanamahadhatu Theravada Buddhist Temple, 4735 N. Magnolia Ave., 60640.

Donations may be made in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: www.stjude.org.

Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.

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Sirisri Rutirasiri

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Monthana Szewczyk (ps. „Lae"), lat 74, mieszkanka dzielnicy Jefferson Park w Chicago, zmarla 9 listopada 2025 roku, dziesiec tygodni po zdiagnozowaniu u niej raka trzustki.

Monthana byla jednym z dziesieciorga dzieci urodzonych w Ban Na San, w prowincji Surat Thani w Tajlandii, w rodzinie, która posiadala apteke. Ukonczyla studia z zakresu handlu na poziomie Associate's degree w Penang College. Byla dumna z tego, ze pelnila funkcje sekretarza wykonawczego dyrektora generalnego Nissan/Datsun w Bangkoku. W 1983 roku przyjechala do USA ze swoja siostra i podjela prace w dziale ksiegowosci w Allied Golf Company (pózniej Wittek Golf Company), gdzie produkowano kije golfowe. Monthana przeszla na emeryture w Allied/Wittek w wieku 65 lat. W 1997 roku rozpoczela wspólprace z mezem, gdy zalozyl szkole jazdy Walter's Driving School. Monthana, oczywiscie, prowadzila ksiegowosc i zarzadzala finansami.

Pewnego dnia w pracy Monthana szla na swój ulubiony lunch ze swoja siostra Sririsri i ze zdziwieniem zauwazyla mlodego mezczyzne siedzacego na jej krzesle. Walter, niedawno przybyly z Polski dzokej, który przyjechal do Stanów Zjednoczonych jako zawodowy dzokej, ledwo mówil po angielsku. Walter twierdzi, ze zaprosil Monthane na randke co najmniej trzydziesci razy, a ona co najmniej trzydziesci razy unikala go grzecznym „Ok! Do zobaczenia jutro!".

W koncu pewnego dnia pozwolila mu sie odwiezc do domu i zatrzymali sie w Brown's Chicken na szybka przekaske. Minelo kilka kolejnych tygodni, zanim przyjela jego drugi podwóz. Ich pierwsza oficjalna randka odbyla sie w Lincoln Park Conservatory, miejscu, które czesto odwiedzali przez lata, a takze na spacery po parku i wzdluz jeziora. Po kilku kolejnych randkach Monthana nagle musiala przez miesiac pomagac w kuchni w tajskiej restauracji swojej siostry na Florydzie. Walter czul sie osamotniony. Wkrótce po powrocie Walter zostal wyslany na trzy miesiace do Domino Horse Farm niedaleko Lexington w stanie Kentucky. Zanim wyjechal, zabral Monthane na kolacje i wreczyl jej pierscionek z diamentem i bialym zlotem. Monthana zapytala: „Czy to pierscionek zareczynowy?". Walter zarumienil sie. „To pamiatka". Monthana odpowiedziala: „Wiec to *jest* pierscionek zareczynowy". Walter: „Tak".

Po trzech miesiacach w Kentucky Walter porzucil kariere dzokeja, by wrócic do kobiety, w której sie zakochal. Cala rodzina Monthany przyjela go z otwartymi ramionami, a nawet zapewnila mu sypialnie w mieszkaniu jej brata Narina. Narin i Walter nadal sa najlepszymi przyjaciólmi, ale wówczas Walter nie chcial wywierac presji na Monthane, wiec przeprowadzil sie do domu innego przyjaciela. Wkrótce potem para zamieszkala razem, „zeby spróbowac". Walter kilkakrotnie przekroczyl waznosc wiz turystycznych i pracowniczych, a Monthana czesto zartowala, ze chce sie z nia ozenic tylko dla obywatelstwa. Aby udowodnic jej blad, Walter nigdy nie przyjal zielonej karty i otrzymal obywatelstwo od prezydenta Reagana (przed uplywem terminu amnestii o dwa dni). 22 marca 1986 roku pobrali sie podczas sekretnej ceremonii w ratuszu w Chicago. Tego wieczoru wypili wspólnie mala butelke szampana, poniewaz Monthana nie tolerowala alkoholu. Monthana i Walter utrzymywali swoja tajemnice tak dlugo, jak mogli, z obawy przed konfliktem miedzy kultura polska, katolicka i tajska, buddyjska. W koncu jej rodzina dowiedziala sie, ze jest mezatka.

Monthana i Walter lubili jesc dim sum z jej rodzina, a takze w restauracjach Olive Garden i Red Lobster, i ogladac „Domek na prerii". Chociaz nigdy nie odwiedzili swojego kraju, podrózowali po Stanach Zjednoczonych, odwiedzajac Park Narodowy Yellowstone, Montane, wyspe Mackinaw w stanie Wisconsin, a szczególnie podobala im sie podróz do Kanady przez Holland, Michigan (dla tulipanów) i wodospad Niagara. W polowie lat 90. Monthana i jej maz zabrali cala rodzine na narty do Wisconsin. Wielu jej krewnych nigdy wczesniej nie widzialo sniegu. Wychowali uroczego i upartego pinczera miniaturowego o imieniu Pigus (znanego równiez jako „Piggy"). Walter nigdy nie zapomni chwili, gdy Monthana i Piggy zostali zaatakowani przez dzikiego kota. Piggy pobiegl ze smycza, a Monthana podazyla za nim w pogon.

Monthana dostrzegala piekno w kwiatach i naturze. Uprawiala japonskie sliwki, brzoskwinie, bzy, maliny i róze, a takze ostatnie w sezonie jablka, które zakwitly. Monthana dbala o krzewy, a Walter o drzewa, a takze wysylala zonie zdjecia ich ogrodowych darów, gdy ta byla w Tajlandii.

Monthana zawsze wygladala mlodziej niz wskazywalby na to jej wiek metrykalny i dbala o siebie, cwiczac i spacerujac. Byla niezwykle troskliwa wobec innych i utrzymywala bliskie relacje z rodzenstwem i ich rodzinami, a do Tajlandii wracala co dwa lata na dluzsze wizyty. Kilka sióstr przyjechalo do Chicago w ostatnich miesiacach, aby zaopiekowac sie Monthana, gdy walczyla z rakiem.

Byla skromna, cicha, lagodna i zawsze niechetna do zaczepiania kogokolwiek. Nawet pod koniec zycia martwila sie bardziej o meza niz o siebie. Dwa dni przed smiercia Walter podarowal jej przepiekny, starannie dobrany pierscionek rocznicowy, przeznaczony na ich 40. rocznice slubu i odnowienie przysiegi malzenskiej w lutym przyszlego roku. Walter wsunal pierscionek na jej palec i pasowal idealnie. W noc poprzedzajaca jej smierc Walter wyjal Monthane z jej lózka, polozyl ja w swoim i polozyl sie obok niej na chwile. Objela go ramieniem na kilka minut, ale czujac, ze potrzebuje wiecej przestrzeni, przeniósl sie na podloge obok niej. Monthana zmarla kilka godzin pózniej na oddziale ratunkowym szpitala Resurrection. Przez lata Monthana wyjezdzala do Tajlandii na piec miesiecy, ale Walter zawsze wiedzial, ze wróci. Czasami nie wiesz, jak bardzo kogos kochasz, dopóki go nie stracisz.

Montana byla ukochana zona Waldemara „Waltera" Szewczyka przez 39 lat; ukochana siostra Suchin (Manop) Saengkul, Lunchin (Pracha) Rathavinit, Parinda (Kongsak) Marompon, Sutee (Marc) Rousseau, Narin Rutirasiri, Sunan (Narit) Siridhab, Sririsri (Pedro) Castaneda i Hongjin Rutirasiri; oraz kochajaca ciotka dr. Peris Castaneda (którego pomagala wychowywac) i wielu innych bratanic i bratanków.

Poprzedzili ja w smierci bratanek Janson „Peter" Castaneda, brat Chalit „Charlie" (Varunee) Rutirasiri oraz rodzice Wong Chun i Kuihian Lee.

Nabozenstwo zalobne z obrzedami buddyjskimi i modlitwami katolickimi, piatek, 14 listopada, o godz. 10:00 (kremacja rozpoczyna sie na miejscu o godz. 11:00) w kaplicy Bohemian National Cemetery. 5255 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60630. Modlitwy w swiatyni buddyjskiej Wat Phrasriratanamahadhatu Theravada, 4735 N. Magnolia Ave., 60640.

Darowizny w jej imieniu mozna przekazywac na rzecz Szpitala Dzieciecego sw. Judy: www.stjude.org.

Organizacja pogrzebu: Inclusive Funeral Care, tel. 773-318-1305 lub www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.