Thaddeus ‘Ted’ Pilewski, of Niles
Published 9:24 am Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Dec. 5, 1936 — Dec. 30, 2018
Thaddeus “Ted” Pilewski, 82, of Niles, passed away at his home on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
Ted was born on Dec. 5, 1936, to the late John and Stephanie (Sowinski) Pilewski.
After graduating from South Shore High School, Ted wed the love of his life, Carole Heniff, at St. Joachim Catholic Church in Chicago. Together, they raised their four children. Ted began his more than 40-year career at U.S. Steel and later at Inland Steel as a Draftsman and Project Scheduler. Ted could fix anything that was broken. If it wasn’t broken, he could find a way to improve it with “Steel Mill Construction.” After his retirement, Ted and Carole made Barron Lake their permanent home.
Besides spending time on the lake, which included fishing, skiing, and boating; he enjoyed running, playing racquetball, and a round of golf. There was nothing more important to Ted than his family. He often mentioned what a lucky man he was to have such a wonderful wife, children, and grandchildren. Ted had a gift for telling a joke at any moment, with an infectious laugh and a booming voice that could be heard for miles. He was an exceptional accordion player, and dancer. When Ted said he had on his “dancing shoes,” he meant it.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Stephanie Pilewski; and sister, Theresa (Harry) Sosnowski.
Ted is survived by his wife, Carole Pilewski; children, Ann (Darryl) Sopoci, of Fishers, Indiana, Michael Pilewski, of Lansing, Illinois, Joseph (Allyn) Pilewski, of Riverside, Illinois, and John (Kris) Pilewski, of Schererville, Indiana; grandchildren, Adam (Lauren) Sopoci, Kevin Sopoci, David (Megan) Sopoci, Andrew, Matthew, and Sarah Pilewski, and Jackson and Sam Long and many extended family members and close friends.
A memorial mass will be at St. Michael Catholic Church located at 1 East Wilhelm Street in Schererville, Indiana, on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. CST. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Calumet City, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ted’s memory to the following, Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800 Miami, FL 33131, Prostate Cancer Foundation at 1250 Fourth St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to the Barron Lake Association, P.O. Box 54, Niles, MI 49120.