Regina F. Narusis

Regina Gyte F. Narusis passed to be with God, her husband, Bernard, and parents, Eugenia and Viktoras, on April 25, 2022. She was with her children with whom she had an active dialogue and shared fond memories of friends and family in McHenry County, Illinois and her homeland, Lithuania.

Regina and Bernard resided in Oakwood Hills, Illinois, Vilnius, Lithuania, and finally Salt Lake City, Utah.

Regina was a dual citizen of the United States and Lithuania, born in Kaunas, Lithuania on October 12, 1936. Regina is survived by three children Victor Narusis (Clare Narusis), Ellen (Narusis) Behrens (Mike Behrens) and Susan (Narusis) Losurdo (Angelo Losurdo), nine grandchildren – John, Joseph, Therese Narusis Hartz (Matthew Hartz), Mary, Matthew, Anna, Alexa, Enzo and Zanna, and one great-grandchild Leonas Hartz. Preceding her in death are her beloved husband Bernard (married June 8, 1959), mother Eugenia (Cesnavicius), father Victor and infant brother Vytas.

Regina and her parents immigrated to the United States on September 13, 1949 and became a US citizen on December 2, 1954.

Regina was an accomplished attorney, community & civic advocate, and passionate Lithuanian leader. She received her bachelor's degree in political science in 1957 and Juris Doctor in 1959 at age 22 from the University of Illinois.

Regina boldy formed a law practice in 1960 at her home in Oakwood Hills, Illinois and served as Assistant State’s Attorney in McHenry County Illinois from 1968 to 1975. Her husband joined her in the practice of law in 1969, forming the law firm of Narusis & Narusis. There, she and her husband represented seven municipalities, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and worked in various areas of law.

As a community and civic advocate, she was elected a member of the Prairie Grove School District and served as President for several terms until 1979. Regina also served the Rockford Diocese in the 1980’s and 1990’s as member of the Rockford Diocesan Finance Council, member and Chairperson of the Diocesan Foundation, Executive member of the Diocesan Association Foundation and member of the Marian Central Catholic High School Board. With her husband, Bernard, she was a founding member of the McHenry County Community College, and served as a member of the District Health Council, the Social Assistance Council, and the Illinois State Highways Advisory Board. She and her husband were founders of the American Lithuanian Bar Association (LABAS) where she served as Chairwoman and a member of the council. Regina was an active member of the Republican Party which later became foundational in US support for Lithuania’s independence and entrance into NATO.

As independence activities emerged in the former Soviet Union in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Regina’s passion in support of Lithuania’s independence came into full bloom. While initially participating in Lithuanian cultural activities through the Waukegan – Lake County Lithuanian American Association, she later went on to actively serve as a member of the 16th through 19th Councils of the Lithuanian Community of the United States (2000-2006), and Chairwoman of the National Board of the Lithuanian Community of the United States (1994-2000). Regina went on to serve as Chairwoman of the Board of the World Lithuanian Community (2006–2012), and was a member of the Lithuanian Community Commission of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the United States. Among her most proud achievements in support of Lithuania, Regina served Chairperson of the Central and Eastern European Coalition NATO Expansion Working Group which resulted in Lithuania’s entrance into NATO in 2005. Regina’s most recent efforts in support of Lithuania relate to her book entitled “In Lithuanian we are born Lithuanians we want to be”.

Regina was the founder of the Support Fund of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a member of the Commission for the Restoration and Purpose of the House of Lords of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and chaired the US Support Committee for the House of Lords (2003–2020), an honorary member of the Council of the House of Lords, and 2nd Degree Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Regina became a member of the Vilnius Club in 2018 and took great joy in participating in their many events and making many new and special friends there.

She and her husband were members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in which they took great strength and comfort.

Among numerous awards, she held special fondness for those from the Order of Gediminas II, a Metal of Honor from the Republic of Lithuania for service to the nation (1998) and Order of Gregory of Great - Pontifical Order of Merit bestowed by the Pope for the Catholic Church.

Respects may be made during Visitation at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home in Crystal Lake, Illinois on May 5, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A time for Eulogies will be at 7pm which will also be livestreamed on the funeral home Facebook page with a link to view at www.querhammerandflagg.com. A Funeral Mass at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church will be held at 11 am May 6, 2022. The Funeral Mass will be streamed at peterpaulchurchcary.org. Burial will be at Crystal Lake Memorial Cemetery in Crystal Lake, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lithuanian American Foundation (https://lithuanianfoundation.org/donations/) or the National Museum-Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania be greatly appreciated.