This is how I will always remember Peter. Smiling and laughing. I will never forget teasing each other and just having so much fun together. I really hope the afterlife is treating you so well.

I’m still processing the whole situation, but Peter was my manager at lou’s. This was the first job that I loved and truly felt happy clocking in each shift. Whenever Peter was closing or even there for only an hour he always managed to make me laugh at least once, even if it was unintentional. Peter was a figure in my life that always told it how it was and that I could always feel comfortable around. I knew if there was an issue with a customer he always had my back on it or if I made a mistake he helped guide me for the next time. It’s been almost a year since I left Lou’s, but everytime I came in after he was there to greet me and remind me what a sense of community I felt at Lou’s. He was the comfort to get me through a tough shift and the guidance I needed to become a better employee and person in general. Peter had a huge impact on me and I’m sure many of the other Lou Malnati’s employees. I will always remember him for that, I’ll miss you Peter 💕🕊️

You will be deeply missed. Peter, you were a great manager and a great guy I can’t believe your gone. Rest well

We are praying for the family, friends and Lou's Family at this difficult time. The Oak Park Lou's Team is sending our love and prayers

Lauren Waithe 
General Manager 
Oak Park Lou Malnati's

Peter first hired me at Lou's as a delivery driver. It was my first job out of high school, and I will never forget the time I came in for my interview. I remember being so nervous when we introduced ourselves, but then before the interview even began he told me he was going to hire me. Peter was my favorite manager at Lou's and we always had interactions that always brightened my day. I still hear his laughs and sarcastic remarks whenever I think about him and they bring me much joy. Whenever I had a shift with him, it didn't feel like work, but instead like I was hanging out with my friends. Peter was the kind of person who leaves a positive mark on people and he certainly left one on me. He always made me feel understood and valued and he was a genuine, authentic person, and I am incredibly grateful for having had him in my life. I miss you Peter, and I wish I had reached out to you more since I left Lou's and gotten that beer with you.

Like many others whos hearts he touched, Peter was my manager at Loumalnatis. i had only met him a little over 2 years ago once he came to my store, and within that time he came to be someone I truly admired. 

everything about him caught my eye. his energy was more obvious then anyones, if he walked in the room, you’d know it. he lit up the room with smiles, a hilarious cackle of his own, and a gnarly beard. I appreciate the kind of person he was, he took nothing and only gave. he tried to make you feel heard, and seen.

its not hard for me to connect and get along with people, but at times it feels forced, something that made me so comfortable with peter was that nothing felt forced, i could truly be myself around him, and i just know everyone else felt the same. ❤️‍🩹

Theres so so much more i want to say with absolutely no way how to put it into words.. I just simply wish you were still here with us and that i had gotten to share a blue moon with you one day. i hope whatever afterlife your experiencing your filling it with the same light as you did to this earth, stride forward and conquer the heavens, Peter. 🥺🕊️

where do i even start? peter wasn’t just my manager at lou’s he was also my friend. he saw more in me than most & rooted for me since the start & called me his “grasshopper” , we closed almost every thursday together & it was always a blast, i’m gonna miss teasing eachother & him being on my “team”. i always denied it to him but it was my favorite shift. i can’t believe i’m not gonna get random tiktok's from him , a shot from his full throttle or constantly be on the lookout for a new pen for him. closes with him were always full of laughs.. or cackles i should say & i have to say idk how work will ever be the same. i didn’t start out with him at lou’s but he definitely made the biggest impact & i will forever be grateful for the honor of getting to work with him. he was the silliest every shift and could always get you to crack a smile. i hope he knows the popcorn buckets for the new Spiderman movie look sick & i hope i get the right one for him 🪽

Peeeettttter,
I can’t thank you enough for the lasting impact you’ve had on my life. You taught me that even in the darkest days, laughter and humor can carry you through anything. Thank you for making some of my worst days, my best. Your laugh was one of a kind and you were always the life of the party.

I’ll never forget our drunken FaceTimes, all the pranks pulled on you, you crashing my dates, countless nights at Stonewood, heart to hearts in the office and the countless laughs we shared. These memories will stay with me forever.

You are so love and you will be forever missed. Thank you for bringing so much light and joy into the lives of everyone who knew you. Ride on my friend. ❤️

Peter was such a great person inside and out, every time we hang out or even worked together in the past I already knew I would have a good laugh because of him. He was always just a text away and he was always there to listen to everyone. Thank you for being you and being such an awesome person and friend, rest in peace Peter.

Oh Peter, I would give anything to hear your laugh just one more time. Thank you for the many years of friendship, laughter and so, so many memories. You quickly became the annoying brother who always had to be right and quite often knew me better than I knew myself.  You were a true gem in this word & life will not be the same without you. I miss you so much. Thank you for being in my life....."What are we going to be? "besties forrrrrrr lifeeeee" always & forever friend xo. -me

Peter was also my manager at Lou’s. Peter was THE person you would go to if you had any kind of problem because he was someone you could talk to about anything. He treated you as more than an employee but has a human and a friend. I would genuinely look forward to working when I knew I would be closing with him. No matter what the situation was he would find some kind of way to make you laugh. And he had such a distinct laugh too! And I can still hear it haha.  My condolences and prayers to his family. I want you to know that he was a great man who left a great impact on others.  Thank you for everything Peter

Still doesn’t feel real that you’re gone. I will miss your Kermit the Frog voice yelling at me, “Are you kidding me?” and your silly dance moves on your way to the bathroom and your cigarette breaks.  Checking your location to make sure you made it home only to find you at Taco Bell 🤣

I love you and will miss you so much!

Peter, 
When we met, somehow our arguments turned into talking every day, spending countless hours on the phone, and laughing about everything. You are one of those people who came into my life and changed it in ways I didn’t even realize at the time. 
I’m so so grateful for every conversation, every picture you drew for me, every laugh,  and every memory. 
I know I never admitted it, but you really did have the best dance moves. 
You will forever have a place in my heart.

Peter was my manager at Lous. Throughout getting to know him, I have realized he is the only person I've ever met that has never failed once to make somebody laugh. He was always himself, and never ashamed to be, even at work. And we all loved that about him. He felt comfortable to talk to, and he treated us not just like coworkers- but like human beings. He was genuine, always. I am going to miss him so much. There will never be another person like Peter.

Peter was the one friend who always made the group laugh no matter what.  All his friends loved him and no words can say how much he’ll be missed. I wish I could give him one last hug , but I know he’s going to be with us always.

So many memories with Peter over the past 20 plus years. His loyalty as a friend is something I’ll never forget. Cheers to the life of the party. PETERRR!

As my manager at Lou Malnatis, Peter created an impact that will last forever. From the very beginning, he made the working experience so much better, lightening up the mood no matter how tired we were. There was something so infectious about his laughter that constantly just made me smile. Just last Friday we were arguing about whether or not all BBQ comes with honey and worrying about whether or not customers were going to call back complaining about their food. I am extremely grateful for his empathy that he had towards me. He made me feel seen and understood, even if at times I couldn’t understand myself.  I will truly miss the Friday’s in carryout but am grateful for the many memories that we made in the workplace that will last forever. Thank you for everything Peter. Rest in peace.

As members of the St James community, the Yopchick family extend their deepest sympathies to Peter’s family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace, Peter.

Peter was by my side most of my Lou Malnati’s journey. He invested his time in me. He believed in me. I am the person I am today because of him. He was the brother I never had. I am beyond lucky to have a friend like him.

OBITUARY

Peter Michael Chatel

August 18, 1989 – June 22, 2026

Glueckert Funeral Home

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