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November 15, 1908 - August 27, 2011 Catherine Edith Churilla Zelencik passed away at the age of 102 at 4:00 pm on Saturday, August 27, 2011. Her daughter, Mary Schmidt, and her granddaughter, Christie Gabbert, were by her side giving her comfort and love. For the last 18 years, Catherine was a resident of Vista Del Monte Retirement Community in Santa Barbara, CA. Catherine was born on November 15, 1908, in East Chicago, IN. Her mother, Elizabeth Szitas emigrated from Hungary to an arranged marriage in the USA to Peter Bartock. They had three boys: Peter, Nickolas and Andrew. After Peter's death, Elizabeth met and married Joseph Churilla, who also emigrated from Hungary. They had three children, Louis, Catherine and Joseph. Jr. As the only girl in the family, Catherine was cherished and well protected in her growing up years. Her parents purchased a building on Melville Avenue in East Chicago, IN, where they opened and operated a small grocery store. The family lived in an apartment over the store. Catherine graduated from East Chicago Washington High School in East Chicago, IN, in 1926. She attended college in Wisconsin and Michigan with plans to become a teacher. When the Great Depression of 1929 came, Catherine's family was in danger of losing their business and their building. Catherine left college to assist her family. With almost no jobs available, she was hired as a secretary at the "Home Owner's Loan Corporation." Through this position, Catherine was able to find a way to refinance her mother's property, thereby saving it for her family. She was very proud to have attained this achievement, especially as a young woman in that era. Catherine loved to dance. She and her friends often took the bus to the public dance hall to show off their expertise at the Charleston, the Swing and other steps of the day. At one of these events, she met her soon-to-be future husband; blue eyed, red headed, snappy dresser, Stephen John Zelencik. Stephen was born in Czechoslovakia on July 13, 1900, to Mary Kantor and John Zelencik. He immigrated with his family in 1908 to the United States. By the age of 13, as the oldest of seven children, he left school in order to help support his family. Stephen apprenticed and learned steel pattern making at the then named Continental Steel, where he worked for many years. He was so precise in his work that he made some of the patterns that were used to build the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. After a lovely courtship, Stephen and Catherine were married on April 23, 1932. They had a son, Stephen Joseph, in 1935, and a daughter, Mary Catherine, in 1937. Both children had red hair. By 1947, the young family had saved enough to purchase a lot and build a home in the "Brantwood" neighborhood of Highland, IN. Catherine belonged to Pi Sigma Phi Sorority, where she met many close lifelong friends. She loved gardening and sewing and kept a perfect home for her children and very hard working husband. Stephen and Catherine were devout Roman Catholics and assisted in building a new church in Highland, IN, named Our Lady of Grace. Catherine's beloved husband, Stephen, passed away in 1983. She remained in Indiana until 1993, when after she had a few falls on the basement stairs, and her children, Stephen and Mary, became aware she was still shoveling snow, it was decided she should move to California. In 1993, Catherine moved into the Vista Del Monte Retirement Community where she enjoyed the rest of her life involved in friendships and busy activities. She loved watching educational channels, Oprah, Judge Judy and Dr. Phil on TV, and voraciously read the local and national newspapers. She enjoyed time with her family going to movies, lunches, beach walks, short trips, shopping, attending local events and celebrating every holiday marked on the calendar. As she aged, Catherine remained positive and broadly smiled through her days earning the love of her friends, with many calling her "Catherine the Great." She worked every crossword puzzle available and drove her car until she was 95 years old. Her mind was crystal clear to the very end of her life. Even when she was 102 years old, her eyes would sparkle; she would do a flirty little shimmy with her shoulders, and sing: "Do you want to dance?" It brought out smiles and joy from those around her. Her "style" mentored many others. Her son, Stephen and his late wife, Harriet, donated funds to install a beautiful, exotic salt-water fish aquarium in the Vista Del Monte "Fernbrook" building in Catherine's honor. It remains a popular attraction for all of the residents, and provides a memory of her as they may observe her namesake, "Catherine" the ever-beautiful "Yellow Tang." Catherine is survived by her son, Stephen (Harriet) Zelencik, of Woodside, CA, her daughter, Mary (Donald) Schmidt, of Santa Barbara, CA, her grandchildren, Christie (John) Gabbert, of Goleta, CA, Evy Wiborg, of Ventura, CA, David Wiborg, of La Grande, OR, her former son-in-law, Robert Wiborg, of Ventura, CA, her grand-daughter-in-law, Patricia (nÃ©e) Rostow Wiborg, her great-grandchildren, Courtney Wiborg and Taylor Wiborg, of Ventura, CA, her current son-in-law, Donald Schmidt and her grandson-in-law, John Gabbert. Other survivors include Catherine's cherished best friend and sister-in-law, Elvira (Joseph) Churilla, of Schererville, IN. Elvira has four daughters - Christine Churilla Hedrick, of Schererville, IN, Susan Churilla Nightingale, of AZ, Nancy Churilla Skee, of PA, and JoMarie Churilla Salczynski, of IN. Additional relatives in Indiana include Philip Sarnecki, William Churilla, James Churilla, Mary Jo Zelencik, Mary Beth Zelencik Moran, Conrad Zelencik, Linda Zelencik, Caleb Zelencik and Clyde Bartock. Living in Illinois are Phil Churilla and Trudi Zelencik Walta, and living in New York, Jean Bartok. Catherine was predeceased by her husband, Stephen John Zelencik (January 13, 1983), her granddaughter, Mary Catherine Zelencik (January 8, 1994), her grandson, Steven Robert Wiborg (December 21, 2008), her brothers, Louis Churilla and Joseph Churilla, her beloved daughter-in-law, Harriet (nÃ©e) Sarnecki Zelencik (February 14, 2011), nephew, Louis Churilla, Jr., the siblings of Catherine's husband, John Zelencik, Frank Zelencik, Anthony "Tony" Zelencik, Fabian Zelencik, Irma Zelencik Burke Moll and Julia Zelencik Henny Krame, her nieces, Ann Zelencik and Tina Zelencik Dragos and nephews, Frank P."Bud" Zelencik, Jr., David Zelencik and Anthony "Tony" Zelencik, Jr. Catherine's remains are now resting with her precious husband Stephen's in the lush hillside of the Sunrise Urn Garden at Santa Barbara Cemetery, overlooking the blue ocean in Santa Barbara, CA. The family wishes to thank Catherine's many friends and fellow residents of her retirement community, her long-time physician, Dr. Erno Daniel, Monsignor Michael Jennett of San Roque Catholic Church, the staff, nurses and aides of Vista Del Monte Retirement Community and Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara. At each visit with her family, Catherine would sing out: "Well, I am still here." Yes, Katy-cam, a mi kedves sem (our dear sweeheart), you are still here, forever in our hearts.

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Catherine Zelencik Obituary | Altogether