Barbara A. Kerstowske

Barbara Ann (Michalak) Kerstowske, age 87, peacefully passed away in the early hours of Sunday, July 16th at the William J. Riley Memorial Residence hospice care near her home in Dyer, IN.  She was born on July 9th, 1936 in Chicago, IL to Clementine (Sowinski) Michalak and Edward Michalak. She attended Immaculate Conception grammar school and was a graduate of St. Peter and Paul High School. She married Elmer W. Kerstowske at Immaculate Conception church in South Chicago on September 21, 1958. She worked at Illinois Bell Telephone Company and later with her husband at Crain Communications in Chicago, IL in the library. Barbara devoted herself to raising her daughters and keeping a pristine home. She enjoyed the freedom of driving and was always willing to help friends and family with errands. She liked bowling, reading, traveling with Elmer, and was an impressive whistler.  She loved sweets, especially Gayety’s hot fudge sundaes and Fannie May pixies, and spent lots of time walking in the mall with Elmer or in the neighborhood with her friends. One of her favorite activities was going out for dinner with her husband after mass.  Later in life, she devoted her time to supporting her granddaughters and spent countless hours watching tennis matches and theatrical productions.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard Michalak, and her husband.  She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Kerstowske and Judy (Mark) Swisher, and her granddaughters Mallory (Michael) Kroll and Kate Swisher.

Visitation Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. directly at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church 500 Northgate Dr. Dyer, IN, with Rev. Leo Gajardo officiating.  Interment Memory Lane Memorial Park Cemetery – Crown Point, IN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Misericordia Home 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 5501 N. Cumberland Ave. #101, Chicago, IL 60656 , appreciated.

Arrangements entrusted to Smits Funeral Home 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane (Rt.30/Pleasant Springs Ln.) Dyer, IN.  For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www.SMITSFH.com