Jeannette Wanda Czekaj

Jeannette Wanda Czekaj

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Jeannette W. Czekaj (nee Kida) on August 2, 2023.  She was the beloved wife of the late Edward Joseph Czekaj, loving mother of Adrienne (Thomas) Pohrte and Susan (Michael) Larson; grandmother of Edward (Ladan) Owen and Kelsey (Wayne) Shannon, great grandmother to Alexandre Bardiya Owen, and sister of Sally Walega. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. 

Born to Andrew and Stephanie Kida April 12, 1929 in Chicago, IL, she was the older sister to Sally Walega, Henry Kida (deceased) and Christine Chojecki (deceased). She studied design and was a sewing whiz, making clothes for her daughters. She and Edward, a mechanic for Braniff Airlines, relocated to Texas in the early 1950s.  Jeannette insisted that her daughters take shorthand, typing, and home economics classes in high school to be prepared for the work force. Once her daughters were in college, she re-entered the work force and began a career as an administrative assistant to the Building Inspection Department of the City of Irving, Texas, where she retired after 20 years.

She and Edward enjoyed traveling and visited California, Arizona, Washington state, Colorado, London, and Hawaii.  They also made numerous trips back to their families in Chicago. 

Upon the passing of her husband of 51 years, Jeannette moved to Colorado with Tom and Adrienne where she learned to re-navigate snow.  Deciding that altitude was not where she wanted to be, she joined Susan and Michael in Key West in 2013 and the family moved to Key Largo in 2017.  She was a member of the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West as well as St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church in Key Largo.  She also attended and had many friends at St. Peter Church in Big Pine Key. 

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Justin Martyr Church, Key Largo, FL, on Monday August 14 at 11:00 a.m.  Interment will be at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Jeannette’s name to your favorite charity.