Rose A Jurkovac

Rose Jurkovac (nee Smole), passed away on August 20, 2017 at the age of 104 after a brief illness at Avanti Health & Rehab in Minocqua, WI. Rose was born September 2, 1912 in Waukegan, IL. Her 105th birthday celebration planned for September 2nd will now take place in heaven. Rose lived most of her life in Waukegan, IL. In 2012, her daughter moved her to Minocqua, WI. Rose was devoted to her Catholic faith. She was a former member of Mother of God Church in Waukegan, IL and Queen of Peace Church in North Chicago, IL. She was a factory worker for 32 years at the US Envelope Company, now a division of Westvaco. She retired in 1976. Rose was also a volunteer for many years at the Waukegan Croation Tamburitzan Hall. She worked as the cashier for their Friday night fish fry and greeted everyone with her beautiful smile and cheerful personality. When Rose lived in Waukegan she was very active in numerous organizations - St. Anne’s and St. Joseph’s Lodge KSKJ, the Croation Fraternal Union Lodge 75, Steelworkers Retirees Club, Slovene Pensioners Club, Waukegan/North Chicago Senior Citizens, Waukegan Croation Tamburitzans, Catholic Womans Club, St. Therese Auxiliary and AARP Lake County Chapter 150. Rose cherished her family and friends and had the most loving heart. She also had an overwhelming love for animals. A stray dog or cat always found a loving home with her. During her time at Avanti, visits with her daughter’s dogs, Ashton and Bailey, as well as the weekly visits by the volunteers and their therapy dogs always brought a big smile to her face. Rose’s legacy is her thoughtfulness and compassion for others, especially those who were less fortunate than her. Her generosity impacted so many lives. Lasting memories of Rose will be her beautiful soul, loving personality, her wisdom, independence, steadfastness, feistiness, humor and her laugh. She will be sadly missed by all those she left behind. She is survived by three children, Robert Jurkovac of California, Richard (Pam) Jurkovac, and Carol (Jim) McDonough, formerly of Minocqua, WI and currently living in Cave Creek, AZ. Rose has nine grandchildren, Chip (Peggy) Jurkovac, Cindy (John) Zucarro, Ronnie (Lisa) Martin, Ryan McDonough, Kyle (Layla) McDonough, Nikki (Carmen) Richard, Sandy & Lisa Jurkovac, andChelsey (Carlos) Perez, as well as extended-family grandchildren: Jill (Pete} Hernandez, Jim (Kim) McDonough, Steve McDonough, Elizabeth Nevill, Anne (Larry) McNally and Amy McDonough. Rose has been blessed with 32 great-grandchildren and extended family great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Emil in 1973, her parents Jacob and Mary Smole, brothers and sisters Mary, John, Sophie and Frank and an extended family granddaughter, Julie Cobb. A special thank you to the staff at Avanti Health & Rehab for their loving care and support. Services will be held at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wadsworth IL on Saturday, August 26, 2017. Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. followed by a Mass at Noon. A luncheon will be served following the Mass. Donations can be made to Waukegan Animals Getting Saved (WAGS), c/o Finn & Finn, Ltd, 128 North West Street, Waukegan, IL 60085. Please visit Bolger Funeral Home, www.bolgerfuneral.com to share condolences, memories or pictures.