Aleksander Wodka

Aleksander Wodka of Palos Hills, IL passed peacefully on 12/20/22.  He was born in Poland on 12/4/1937.  He was the beloved husband of his wife Jadwiga (Jarmula), loyal to marital vows for 49 ½ years.    He is survived by his loving children, Gerard (Meredith) Wodka, and Mark (Elizabeth) Wodka. Aleksander, “Dzia Dzia”, was the proud grandfather of eight: Ethan, Addison, Alexandria, Caelyn, Noah, Adam, Daniel, and Jacob Wodka.  Aleksander was born on a small farm in Zaborow, Poland and was one of six children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jozef and Zofia (Lupa), his brother Mieczyslaw, and his brother Henryk.    Aleksander immigrated from Poland in 1971 where shortly thereafter he met and married Jadwiga in 1973.  His journey was the “American Dream”, leaving his family in Poland for a promise of prosperity.  He arrived with no money, relying on the best of his knowledge and hands to keep a job, buy a house, raise children, and ensuring they always had enough. He passed on his work ethic and values to his sons and grandchildren.  He left Poland educated in the seminary, but retired as a machinist from Westinghouse Electric in Chicago. The story in between the book-ends for him was not without hardship, but ultimately hard-earned purpose to raise his family.  The family asks you pray for his soul, and to strive to live the words of his last toast before Christmas: To have trust God is always with us, to have hope that tomorrow will be better than today, love each other endlessly, and to cherish your health.   Visitation Monday, December 26th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the KERRY FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CARE CENTER, 7020 West 127th Street, Palos Heights.   Family & friends will gather Tuesday, December 27th for a visitation from 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass, 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 8245 West 111th Street, Palos Hills. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.