Catherine Dolores Balek

Of Arlington Heights

Catherine "Bobo" Dolores Balek (nee Gosenski) was born on August 17, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois to Phillip and Helen Gosenski. She died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on September 21, 2022, at 92 years old.

Bobo, the Matriarch of the Balek Family, was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend to so many. Bobo will also be remembered as the Matriarch of Hillside Auto Body & Towing in Arlington Heights.

On November 6, 1954, Bobo married the love of her life, James Arthur "Art" Balek, Sr.. Bobo moved into the old "White House" at the corner of Arlington Heights Road (then State Road) and Palatine Road, Arlington Heights with her husband, her father-in-law, John, and her brothers-in-law, Edward and Ladislav. Bobo made the home her own and soon became an integral part of the family business, Hillside Towing. Bobo and Art welcomed three children, James Arthur, Jr., Mark Edward, and Theresa Rose.

Bobo made an impression on everyone she met and will be fondly remembered for her generosity, sense of humor, and compassion. She was steadfast in her beliefs. Bobo was an accomplished cook and seamstress. She loved cowboy movies and sharing a drink with friends. Ultimately, her pride and joy were her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Bobo is survived by her sons, James Arthur, Jr. (Barbara), Mark Edward; her grandchildren, Melissa (Timothy), Katie, Colleen, Jill (James), Theresa Marie, Athena, and James Arthur III; her great grandchildren, Julianna, Miranda, Hunter, TJ, Savanna, Ashton, and Charlotte.

Bobo was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Art Sr., her daughter, Theresa Rose, her parents, Phillip and Helen, her brother and sister, Phillip and Elaine, and her brothers-in-law Edward and Ladislav.

Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at Glueckert Funeral Home Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Prayers at 9:15 am, Thursday, September 29, 2022, at the Funeral Home, proceeding to St. James Catholic Church, 820 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights for Mass at 10:00 am. Committal following at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1400 S. Wolf Road, Hillside.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, 800-805-5856, https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html, or Suncrest Hospice, 5 Revere Drive, Suite 130, Northbrook, IL 60062, 847-983-0017.

Funeral information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFH.com or 847-253-0168.