Martha Kozak Pietruszka

Martha Kozak Pietruszka, 99, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2025, at Tabor Hills Healthcare Facility in Naperville, Illinois. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Naperville on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 11 a.m.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 1925, Martha graduated from Jones Commercial High School. She was hired for her first full-time job as a secretary even before graduation and needed to ask for the day off to attend the ceremony. She was married briefly in 1948 to Frank Pietruszka. Martha was a long-time choir member at Five Holy Martyrs parish in Chicago and sang at the Mass said there in 1979 by Pope John Paul II. Even in recent months, Martha would spontaneously break into song, remembering lyrics of many songs. A film lover, too, she could even recently recount plots of many of her favorite movie classics. She was an avid photographer and active member of the Chicago Color Camera Club, which met at the Allerton Hotel. She won numerous club awards for her images. A particular favorite of hers was a colorful photo of a proud rooster standing within the frame of a barn window. She travelled often with the club, including to Spain. She maintained long friendships with women she worked with during World War II at Foote Bros. She retired as an executive secretary from Custodis Construction Co. of Chicago. 

Martha was preceded in death by her parents John and Katherine (Pryztula) Kozak, her sister Irene (Kozak) Lange, brother-in-law Frank Lange, brother Rev. Henry Kozak, and niece-in-law Manuela (Lopez) Lange. She is survived by nephews and nieces, Richard and Judy (Sobol) Lange, Frank Lange, Catherine Lange, Louise (Lange) and Curtis Calvert, and Carol (Lange) and Ric Parlier, as well as seven grand nephews and nieces and eleven great-grand nephews and nieces. After telling Martha about something good happening in one of her family members’ lives, she would often respond, “Who has more fun?!” And when told she was loved, her response often was, “I love you more!” 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Angels for Hospice Charities (www.angelsgracehospice.com/donate/).

Visitation Monday, June 2nd, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Palos Gaidas Funeral Home, 11028 Southwest Hwy., Palos Hills to St. Raphael Church (1215 Modaff Rd., Naperville) for Mass 11:00 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.