Josephine ("Joan") C. Bakos

Josephine ("Joan") C. Bakos, 80, passed away on August 31, 2024 at her home in Barrington, IL. Joan had been fighting a rare neurodegenerative disorder for almost two years and she passed peacefully at home with her devoted husband by her side. She was an incredibly loving wife, mother, grandmother ("Mimi"), sister, aunt, cousin, nurse, and friend to many. For over forty years, Joan worked as an ICU and ER trauma nurse at various Chicagoland hospitals including Northwest Community and Lutheran General Hospitals where she achieved and held multiple credentials rising to the ranks of charge nurse. At a young age, she formulated multiple lifelong dreams which included becoming a nurse, traveling around the world, "finding" her husband-to-be, and becoming a mother... all of which came true. Her family was her code, her essence, her everything. Beloved wife of Peter Bakos, cherished mother of Michael Bakos, Dr. Kristopher (Dr. Laura) Bakos, Dr. Amy Gabriela (Pete) Dimitrakopoulos, and Jennifer (Justin) Steele, adored grandmother ("Mimi") of Troy, Chloe, and Elise Dimitrakopoulos and Oliver and Kristopher Marc Bakos, dearest sister-in-law to Harold (Rosebud) Bakos, admired aunt of several nieces and nephews, respected colleague of numerous medical professionals, and treasured friend to many. Joan was preceded in death by her mother Sophia (Sisko) Kobylak, father Eugene Kobylak, sisters Anna (Miles) Stevens, Emily (Burt) Nielson, and Genevieve (John) Severson, nephews Miles "Junior" Stevens, Harold "Gooch" Bakos, and John Stevens, and granddaughter Natasha Galenski. Visitation will be held on Friday October 11, 2024 from 3:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Morizzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2550 West Hassell Road, (Northeast corner at Barrington Road), Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60169. A prayer service will be held at 5:00 pm with a time set aside to share cherished memories. On Saturday October 12, 2024 the Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 am with a visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 am at Holy Family Catholic Community Parish, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness, IL 60067. A Celebration of Life Luncheon will follow; please check with the family for details. They request that you please come prepared to share your special memories of Joan. Joan was born in Chicago, IL on December 3, 1943 to Sophia and Eugene (both of Czechoslovakian/Austrian decent) and was the youngest of four girls. She was fortunate to have three older sisters and devoted parents that surrounded her with love during her childhood. She attended Saint Symphorosa elementary and middle schools where she was an enthusiastic and inquisitive student. She spent several years of her childhood growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin where she learned to appreciate the hard work associated with farm life. Her family returned to the city, and she graduated high school from Mount Assisi Academy. Ever since she can remember, Joan had dreams of becoming a nurse. She met her husband-to-be Peter through mutual friends, while both were chosen to "stand up" to their best friends' wedding, as Maid-of Honor and Best Man. What an appropriate place to meet her future husband! They fell in love and married the next year, embarking upon their sixty-year journey together as husband and wife. Joan loved working downtown Chicago for New York Life Insurance and would later reminisce about how much she truly enjoyed walking along Madison and State Streets. She really appreciated the hustle and bustle of the city. After years of excelling in business, her husband Peter encouraged her to apply for nursing school. She was accepted into one of the most prestigious nursing schools (Augustana Nursing School), graduated with honors, and gave the graduation speech as she achieved her dreams of becoming a registered nurse (R.N.). She and her husband quickly learned how to juggle their professional careers while raising their four young children. Joan's outgoing nature drove her to become involved with all of her children’s activities and volunteer as a Boy Scout leader, Girl Scout leader, F.A.I.T.H. class teacher, art instructor, and school nurse for the elementary schools. She also volunteered countless hours in various ministries, including the Eucharistic ministry, Anointing of the Sick, and being one of the founding families/parishioners of her church Holy Family Parish. She and her husband were also extremely involved in their children's figure skating competitions, cross country and track meets, soccer and baseball games, piano and dance recitals, and most importantly their academics. Joan was "ahead of her time" in terms of organization, had the most supportive husband, and somehow accomplished all of these philanthropic endeavors, in addition to earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from Elmhurst College, while working full-time as a nurse. Over her career, she earned multiple certifications (emergency trauma, pediatric, and advanced cardiac), honors, accolades, and received letters from patients' families recognizing her skill, selflessness, and dedication as a medical professional. She was an exceptionally hardworking, well-trained, and compassionate nurse who spent her entire career nurturing, caring for, and helping others. Joan was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with her family and friends to many special places around the world. Joan and Peter placed great importance on taking family vacations together since their early days. Collecting seashells on the beaches of Longboat Key, Florida, renting an RV and traveling "out west" to explore the plethora of US national parks, and reuniting with family every summer "up north" at Cass Lake, Minnesota. These were special times that solidified the family bond and created lifelong memories. Brussels, Athens, Paris, Rome, Beijing, Washington D.C., London, Sydney, Vienna, New Zealand, the Caribbean...Joan became a world traveler. Some of her fondest memories included walking the Great Wall of China with her husband, taking a gondola ride in Venice, Italy, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, enjoying the breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea from the cliffs of Santorini, having lunch on the quaint Charles Bridge in Prague, seeing up-close the massive glaciers in Alaska, and returning every year to explore another Hawaiian island, later introducing their grandchildren to their favorite spots in Maui. After she officially retired as nurse, she started the next chapter of her life in perhaps her most rewarding role, as a loving "Mimi" (grandmother). It was her ultimate dream to help care for her grandchildren, continually traveling to Los Angeles and St. Louis to be with them. Mimi was extremely influential in all five of her grandchildren’s lives, showering them with love and creating opportunities to learn and enjoy all the beauty life has to offer. They are her legacy. Her family would agree that she was a remarkable hostess, celebrating the holidays by cooking and baking for a house full of family and friends, while simultaneously connecting with everyone and making them feel welcome. That was "Aunt Joan's" happy place. Many can attest that she was an extraordinarily generous woman, taking care of everyone else before herself. She was an avid reader, art collector, coffee, bread, and chocolate connoisseur, BUNKO player, socialite, and loved baking Austrian kolaches, Greek baklava (pastries), and her special cheesecake. Joan particularly found joy in flower arranging and always loved having fresh flowers in her home. Her favorite flowers were carnations, which are known as the "mother flower", representing the beauty of motherhood. As we know she wouldn't want us to mourn, but instead come together and celebrate the beautiful memories she made with all of us. Her love of family and close friends will sustain her memory in our hearts forever. May Joan's memory be forever eternal.

Josephine ("Joan") C. Bakos

December 3, 1943 - August 31, 2024