Kathryn Mary Cunningham Krawiec

Kathryn Cunningham Krawiec, 69, of Plainfield, formerly of Orland Park, passed peacefully September 13, 2021.

Our mom was born on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield CA to the most loving parents, Gladys & Mickey Cunningham and had 2 older siblings: Thomas, who died at birth and is buried on an Air Force base in Wyoming, and the most amazing sister, Karen (Cunningham) Altman.

Our mom cared deeply about people, was extremely thoughtful, worked hard, was a very creative person and talented cook. She has made countless Halloween costumes from scraps around the house, sandwiches that would blow your mind, Thanksgiving stuffing that was sooooo good no one wanted to waste space on eating turkey. She was fiercely loyal and the first to defend her family & friends and was never, ever afraid to stand up for others. She was a prolific poem writer and creator of many songs, including her famous hit “Don’t Bite The Apple”.

Our mom had a perfect childhood. She, Karen and her parents lived with her Grandparents, Francis & Joe Cunningham in Cicero, IL. That home was filled with so much love, especially when her Uncle Richard Cunningham would stop by. Our mom has so many happy memories there and talked about them to the very end.

In 6 th grade, our mom moved to 9109 Sycamore Dr, Hickory Hills where she attended Oak Ridge school, Conrady Jr High and Stagg High School (Class of 1970). She was a very talented musician. She played violin at Carl Sandburg High School & also with the Wheaton Symphony Orchestra, trombone under the direction of Stagg band director Frank Liston, and piano. Her signature song on the piano was “Love Is Blue” by Paul Mauriat. Her love of music didn’t end in high school. She learned to play the guitar and
sat on our beds, playing & singing all of the famous 1970’s folk songs. The songs we remember her playing the most were “Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel and “City of New Orleans” by Arlo Guthrie.

In 1970 our mom started her career with Jewel, which spanned over 30 years. Her very first boss was the type of leader that was unheard of in those days. He empowered our mom to run the deli how she saw fit. He had confidence in her and recognized many of her great ideas. Those simple gestures stayed with her and filled her with so much pride when she talked about it, even 50 years later.

The 1970’s and 1980’s was a very busy time for our mom. This is when she had the 6 of us. Colleen (the good one), Kelly (who thinks she was the favorite), Theresa (the creative one), Becky (Sunnybrook), Katie (her mini-me) and Jerry (who she spent hours packing his lunches every night, even though he was a grown man). Through these kids she was able to gain a few great Son In Laws and a wonderful Daughter In Law: Bill Dahlstrom, Keith Bujan, Dave Salup and Melissa Krawiec.

The 1990’s started her journey as a Grandma to 12 Grandkids: Kyle, Ryan, Mitchell, Tyler, Kathryn, Frankie, Scarlett, Savannah, Preston, Shawn, Joey and Madyson. In 2020, she also became a Great-Grandma to Archer.

Our mom was blessed to have a wonderful, caring and thoughtful sister Karen Altman and a very funny, caring, hardworking brother in law, Don Altman. They blessed her with 5 wonderful nieces and nephews: Cheri, Michael, Lori, Amy and Danny. We also were lucky to know their awesome pets: Sheba, Taco, Molly and Mickey. So many wonderful memories revolve around spending time with all of them and my Grandparents, in their homes in Country Club Hills and Orland Park. As we have grown older, we realized how much effort it takes to throw a party and are forever grateful our Aunt Karen took it upon herself to host almost every holiday & all the behind the scenes work our Uncle Don and cousins did to help make it possible.

Anyone who knows our mom knows she’s a huge animal lover. Her beloved dogs over the years: Pixie, Kelly (yes, she named my sister after her old dog), Trixie, Baron (given to us by our good family friends The Suchor’s), Duchess (our Dalmatian that ran around Orland Park), Bronco, Percy and Norman (an older dog someone who had given up for adoption, who brought so much joy to my mom’s life in her very last years. Tracy I can’t thank you enough for giving my mom that dog). Our mom also loved cats.
She has had so many I can’t even name them all…the ones that stand out the most were a 40lb orange cat named Bailey, Rain, Clancy and Doc……..Plus all of the neighborhood rabbits she would feed.

Our mom has been blessed with so many friends over the years. To try and name them all would probably hurt a lot of feelings if I missed someone but there are a few that just have to be named (chronological order): Don Altman, JoAnne & Laurie Suchor, Cindy Dorenkamper, LaVonna Kopaz, Bruce Cooper, Linda Schmudde, Sue Dahlstrom, Darlene and all of her friends at Paddy B’s, all of her Jewel friends and Tracy her next door neighbor in Plainfield. She treasured all of you and all of the years of friendship.

Coming from a HUGE Irish family, our mom had many many Aunts, Uncles and cousins: the Whites, the Muccianti’s, the Schmidt’s, the Richardson’s, the Rybak’s, the Armstrong’s, the Benetone’s, the Summer’s, the Johnson’s and the McGarr’s. There was always a very special place in her heart for her Uncle Richard Cunningham, Grandma Rye, Aunt Emma, Uncle Jimmy, Uncle Eugene, Aunt Elaine, Aunt Dolly, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Dolores, Uncle Ron, Aunt June, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Don.

We are grateful to her doctor of 20 years, Dr. Jeffrey Schiappa, who she adored.

Our mom had a very full and blessed life. May she rest in peace.

Lastly, we would like to recognize her grandson Preston Colapietro, who was our mom’s companion, personal chef, coffee getter and whip cream topper. He personally took care of her for the last 6 months when she was completely bedridden. It was not an easy task. His care allowed my mom to be home with all of us kids for the last 6 months of her life and there is no way we can repay him for that gift.

A graveside service will take place Friday, October 1st at Mount Carmel Cemetery 1400 S Wolf Rd, Hillside IL; time to TBD