Aline M. Mackowiak

Aline M. Mackowiak, age 90, of Monmouth, Illinois passed away at OSF St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 2:34 AM as a result of being struck in the crosswalk by a vehicle on Broadway in front of Immaculate Conception Church, Monmouth IL on Wednesday December 13. From Moline to Monmouth. Wawrzyniec (Lawrence in English) Rekawik came from Poland to work in Moline, LaSalle-Peru, and Peoria, Illinois in the early 1900's. As World War I was approaching, he was returning home on a ship to defend Poland, where a fellow Polish passenger showed him a photograph of his sister, Maria Zwolska. He immediately and stubbornly said, "I am going to marry that woman." The idea of Aline was born in route from Peoria to Poland. After the war, Wawrzyniec acquired rich farm land in southeast Poland. Aline Rekawik was born in October of 1926. At the time of her baptism many weeks later, the parish priest recorded her official birth/baptismal certificate as January 2, 1927 in Horbow, Poland (now Horbiv,Ukraine). She was the oldest daughter of Lawrence and Maria (Zwolska) Rekawik. Aline had 2 brothers and 2 younger sisters, and was raised on the family-owned farm near Tuczyn, Poland (now Tuchyn, Ukraine). In the beginning stages of World War II, the family was removed from the land at gunpoint during the invasion of Poland to a Russian work camp. The family was forced to work as prisoners in Siberia harvesting and hauling timber for 3 years while Aline was 12-14 years old. All the prisoners were released on February 9, 1941 and the family left Siberia as refugees traveling through Russia, Uzbekistan, Iraq, and last in Tehran, Iran; where her father and oldest brother signed on with the Allies in World War II. Her father and brother served with the Allied forces in England. As British subjects, the remainder of the family along with Aline were moved to a camp near Masindi, Uganda. At the conclusion of the war, the family was reunited in the Delamere Park in Cheshire, England, where she completed college. There she met John S. Mackowiak. They married on August 9, 1948 in Northwich, England. The family sailed from England to New York on the Liberte, then by train to Chicago in 1954, to be with friends they knew from their years in Poland. After her 3 children were born and in school, Aline was employed for many years in the early days of micro-chip manufacturing in Western Electric in Chicago and Oak Brook, Illinois until she retired in 1986. She moved to Monmouth with her husband John in 1997 to be near her daughter, Chris and Robert Ayers, and the Ayers grandchildren. She spoke Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Swahili and English. She was a multi-talented woman, each talent she pursued with an intense passion. She began her drawing and painting training while in Africa, and continued with renowned artists in England. The resurgence of her painting passion was triggered by a new set of oil paints her children gave her after her retirement. In the decade that followed, she painted almost constantly creating dozens of beautiful paintings for herself and her family. She was the recipient of a Blue Ribbon at the Buchannan Center of the Arts for one of her paintings. No one remembers a time when she was not designing and creating with fabric and thread. Her talents knew no limit. She made everything from clothes for herself and her children, wedding dresses, to cheering uniforms for the children of Immaculate Conception. Even in her 90s, she continued to design and sew her own clothes. She collected an endless supply of the most beautiful fabrics. Photography was another of her intense passions. Photos of people and flowers surrounded her. Her photo albums and her hard drive were full to capacity. Her dining tables would rival those of Martha Stewart. She was inspired by Polish tradition and gave it her own twist, serving beautiful festive Christmas and Easter meals, which she lovingly shared with her family. The Monmouth community knew her for her flower garden and lawn, where she can make almost anything grow. As each growing season progressed through her daffodils, iris, peonies, roses, then mums. The blooms never ended. Nestled within the blooms was an abundant vegetable garden, surrounded by the lawn she cut herself. The deepest of her passions was prayer. Her daily existence was fueled by daily Mass, long prayer sessions, countless rosaries, and Eucharistic devotion. She actively shared her faith and beliefs with others. It was her unwavering faith in God that carried her through the extreme hardships, the joyous events, and to her final days which brought Aline to her Creator, who endowed her with these multiple talents. Her husband, John S. Mackowak, preceded her in death on June 11, 2005. She is survived by her brother Tadeusz Roman Rekawik of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, her daughters, Eulalia T. Mackowiak of Chicago, Christine (Robert) Ayers of Monmouth, and her son John I. (Leslie) Mackowiak of Cedar Point, North Carolina. She is lovingly referred to as Babcia by her seven grandchildren; Kristen Mackowiak, Katie Mackowiak, John R. Mackowiak, Sarah (Michael) Tomsa, Thomas (Lisa) Ayers, Mary Ayers (engaged to Matthew Guidish), John Ayers, and one great grandson, Daniel Thomas Ayers. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, Krystyna (Chris in English) who died at the age of 2 in Iran), Hariette Wlizlo, and her brother, Michael. Visitation A Rosary Service is planned at 4:30 pm on Friday evening and her family plans visitation and to receive friends following the Rosary at Turnbull Funeral home in Monmouth. Funeral Mass A funeral mass is planned at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Church in Monmouth. Interment will follow the mass at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery on Saturday. Memorial funds are planned for Immaculate Conception Church or the endowment fund of Immaculate Conception School.