Julie Zakarka

In Loving Memory of Julie Zakarka (nee Greičius)

Julie passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family and prayer on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Julie was born on August 31, 1927, to her loving parents, Michael and Benigna Greičius.

She was the youngest of her blended family. Her siblings, Thomas and Anthony Greičius, Albert (Bertha) Jundul, and Estelle (Stanley) Rogers, preceded her in death.

Throughout her life, Julie shared an especially close bond with her older sister, Estelle. Together, the two traveled near and far, enjoyed morning coffees and evening dinners, tried their luck at the slots at Blue Chip Casino, and met up with friends at their beloved Sandpiper, later known as The View Restaurant, where they enjoyed a Perfect Manhattan.

Julie and Estelle were also dedicated members of the Knights of Lithuania (KofL).

Julie joined the organization in 1947 and became an Honorary Member in 2015. Throughout her remarkable 79 years of membership, she sang in the choir, planned countless events, and served in various roles.

The Knights of Lithuania brought Julie dear friends from across the country who became like family to her—and, in time, became family to her own loved ones as well. Together, they truly lived, loved, laughed, and supported one another through life's many adventures.

In 1955, over Memorial Day weekend, Julie traveled to Detroit, Michigan, for a KofL bowling weekend. While trying to get to an event, she hopped into a car and found herself sitting next to a handsome young man from Amsterdam, New York.

When the weekend came to an end, Julie returned home to Chicago and told Estelle that she had met the man she was going to marry. Over the Fourth of July weekend, Al Zakarka proposed to Julie at Buckingham Fountain. The two were married on October 9, 1955, at Julie's beloved Catholic parish, Nativity B.V.M., in Marquette Park.

Together, Al and Julie raised three wonderful daughters: Maria Deksnis (Ed), Rita Johnson (Brian Sr.), and Denise Bonomo (Kurt).

Julie was a woman who deeply loved and cared for her family. Her profound faith guided her throughout her life, and her love for her Lithuanian heritage ran deep.

These were values she instilled in her daughters, which Maria and Rita, in turn, passed down to their own children.

Julie was a devoted grandmother to Andrea (Aras Galinaitis) and Alex Deksnis, and Brian Jr. and Justin (Emily) Johnson. She was also a loving and kind aunt to her nephew, Louis Rogers (Bernadine), their children, Michele and Janet, and their grandchildren, Omar and Drake, as well as her niece, Rita May Piorkowski (Cass), and her family.

Julie was a hands-on mother, grandmother, and aunt. She was there for all of her family's milestones and for everything in between. Whether celebrating life's biggest occasions or sharing in the everyday moments, Julie made sure the people she loved knew she was there for them.

As a family, often joined by their extended KofL family, Julie and her loved ones created countless cherished memories. She enjoyed hosting meals and basement parties that lasted well into the night, relaxing and camping at Braidwood Recreation Club, and singing around the bonfire. She treasured leisurely days at the family condo in Treasure Island, Florida, as well as life's simpler pleasures: listening to her daughter Denise sing, watching a movie, or chatting over a cup of coffee or hot tea.

Julie leaves behind a void that cannot be filled in the hearts of her family and all who knew and loved her. Yet, since 1991, she has been waiting to be reunited with her one and only love, Al. We know with certainty that he was there to welcome her as she passed, along with the family members and many dear friends who had gone before her.

And knowing Julie and Al, we can only imagine the celebration awaiting her arrival—with champagne, bacon buns, and White Castle sliders.

May they once again be together, surrounded by love, laughter, and the joy of a lifetime of memories.

Tu esi amžinai mylėta. Iki kol vėl susitiksime.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation Sunday 3p.m.to 8 p.m. October 25, 2026 at Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home 11028 Southwest Hwy. Palos Hills, IL 60465. Family and friends will meet directly at Nativity BVM Church 6812 S Washtenaw Ave., Chicago, IL 60629 on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. for the Funeral Mass. Interment St. Casimir Lithuanian Catholic Cemetery