Sophie K. Nowak, 87, of LaPorte, died Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at the University of Chicago Hospital.
She was born Oct. 1, 1927, in Chicago to Josef and Maria (Gorel) Kacmarek.
Sophie retired from Howmet as an executive secretary after 28 years of service. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish and the Rosary Sodality in LaPorte and Queen of All Saints Choir and Adoration Chapel of Queen of All Saints Parish in Michigan City, IN. She was also a member of the supervisory committee at Generations Federal Credit Union in LaPorte. She enjoyed researching genealogy after her retirement and was an avid shopper.
On Sept. 1, 1956, in Chicago, she married Carl Robert Nowak, who preceded her in death Aug. 29, 2007.
She was also preceded in death by sisters, Mary Jo Zelezinski, Anna Kacmarek and Kathryn Rimdzius; and brothers, Michael, Andrew and John Kacmarek.
Sophie is survived by her children, Robert (Christine) Nowak, Gregory (Robina) Nowak, Lynnette Nowak, Kelan (Lisa) Nowak, and Jacqueline (Kenny) Hargis, all of LaPorte; grandchildren, Jennifer Grise, Jonathan, Ashley, Nikolaus, Nathan, Tyler, Brittany, and Callie Nowak, Brittany Hargis, and Katie and Andrew Harrell; great-grandchildren, Halo and Briella Nowak, and Aven, Julian and Kai Grise; a sister, Sister Mary Martha Kacmarek, OSB of Warren, OH; and a brother, Joseph Kacey of Westchester, IL.
Visitation will be held Sunday, July 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Essling Funeral Home-Frank L. Keszei, funeral director, LaPorte, with the Rosary to be recited at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, July 13, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, LaPorte. Family and friends may gather at 9 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St Joseph Cemetery, LaPorte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Share Foundation, 6617 N. 300 E., LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.