Anna Skretny

Anna E. Skretny,nee Roberts, beloved wife of the late Harold; loving father of Emily(John) Drabanski, Mary(Jim) Rogers, Amy(Joe Jr.) Ragnanese; proud grandmother of Rachel (Spencer) Butryn, Rebecca (Jake) Flannigan, Cara (Denise Soehrman) Rogers, Joseph (Jessica) Ragnanese lll and dear great grandmother of Grace, Nathan, Eve, Iris, and Rose; cherished sister of of the late Marion (the late Robert Stubben) and the late Humphrey(Delima) Roberts; fond aunt of many nieces and nephews; she was preceded in death by her parents Humphrey and Karen.

Visitation Saturday, November 6th, 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass 10 a.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church,421 Cochise Ct., Carol Stream . Private burial will be held Monday at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to the Employee Appreciation Fund at the Oaks at Bartlett. Checks payable to ILRC of the Oaks at Bartlett, 827 Carillon Dr, Bartlett , IL 60103, or contributions to Seasons Hospice Foundation, 6400 Shafer Ct Suite 700, Rosemont, IL 60018 or online at http://www.SeasonsFoundation.org. would be appreciated. Arrangements by Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory Bartlett. (630) 289-7575

Anna Skretny was born to Humphrey Sr. and Karen Roberts on August 25, 1928.
She was married to the love of her life, Harold Skretny, for almost 65 years when he passed in May 2016. They were married on June 2, 1951.
Anna was a devoted mother to Emily (John), Mary (Jim), and Amy (Joe).
As a mother-in-law to John, Jim, and Joe she was always available for help and support.
She was a devoted grandmother to Rachel, Rebecca, Cara, and Joseph.
She was delighted to be a great-grandmother to Rachels’s children: Grace, Nathan and Eve and Rebecca’s children: Iris and Rose.

Anna’s childhood was split between living in Chicago and on a farm in Coloma, Michigan during the Depression. When her father passed from cancer while she was in high school, she worked at a Chicago grocery store to help support her mother, brother Humphrey Jr., and sister Marion. She kept in close contact with both siblings until they passed.
When Harold and Anna got married, they lived in Chicago until they bought their first home in Melrose Park where they lived for 36 years. After Harold retired, they moved to Carol Stream where they lived until they moved to The Oaks in Bartlett Illinois in the fall of 2013.

Anna was a devoted mother and homemaker, who did not return to work until her oldest daughter was in seventh grade. She was active along with Harold with activities at St. Gertrude Parish in Franklin Park and later at St. Luke Parish in Carol Stream. They both participated in the Christian Family Movement, hosting foreign visitors at their home and helping families in the parish.

She was a Girl Scout leader, a member of the Council of Catholic Women, active with the League of Women Voters and a volunteer with St. Gertrude Parish’s Teen Club. She also made many friends by participating in TOPs Club, Inc. She frequently volunteered with school and church activities and fundraisers. She generously helped others when they were sick or disabled, particularly neighbors and parishioners. She and Harold were devoted to regularly visiting her mother until her passing. In their senior years before moving to The Oaks, they also regularly visited Anna’s sister Marion to play cards and dominoes, as well as to share laughter and a meal.

Throughout the years, Anna and Harold socialized and kept in touch with Anna’s brother Humphrey Jr. and sister-in-law Delima – both before and after Humphrey Jr. and Delima moved to Huntsville, Alabama. Anna and Harold traveled to Alabama to see them and attend a family wedding. Members of her brother’s family also visited with Anna and Harold once they moved to The Oaks.

Anna and Harold and their children traditionally gathered for the holidays with Harold’s brother George and his wife Lois. Before moving to The Oaks, Anna, Harold, George and Lois enjoyed getting together for special restaurant outings to places such as La Campana and the White Eagle restaurant. They also enjoyed meals together at The Oaks.

Among her various jobs, Anna was a special needs school bus driver for the public school, managed a small cafeteria at A.M. Castle, worked in food services at GTE/ Automatic Electric and was a cafeteria employee of Motorola/Panasonic.
Anna enjoyed many great visits with her daughter Emily and son-in-law John, who live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She loved learning about the history, the culture, the art, and the geographical features of the Southwest. When John needed to stay for an extended time in the Chicago area to seek medical treatment, Anna and Harold welcomed him into their home as their own son.

Anna loved spending time with her granddaughters Rachel, Rebecca, and Cara. She attended their baseball games, soccer games, basketball games, the parades that they were in, and all of their award ceremonies at school. She enjoyed going to church with Mary and Jim and eating dinner with them on Saturday nights. During the holidays, Anna enjoyed having her granddaughters join her to make holiday cookies. In her later years, her great-grandchildren delighted her with their visits to see her at The Oaks in Bartlett.

Anna enjoyed visiting with her daughter Amy, her husband Joe, and grandson Joseph. When Joseph was young, she and Harold would take walks with him to area parks and the forest preserves. She and Harold attended Joseph's baseball, volleyball, and basketball games when he was in grade school. She enjoyed talking to him about his love of cars. She was happy to hear about his college studies and career in automotive technologies. She would watch car races with Amy, Joe, and Joseph. In the past year, she was delighted to meet Joseph’s wife Jessica.

For enjoyment, Anna loved to read, particularly mysteries. She also liked to paint ceramics. She and Harold enjoyed dancing, both square dancing and ballroom dancing. After they moved to Carol Stream, they became active in the St. Luke Parish senior group and participated in meetings and outings. In retirement, Harold and Anna enjoyed taking bus tours and cruises together.

In her last years at The Oaks after Harold had passed, she enjoyed sharing stories and participating in games with staff and residents. She enjoyed socializing with family and friends who visited her at The Oaks. Family members often shared a meal they brought or took her to dine in The Oaks dining room when it was open.

She died on October 8 after complications of a stroke.