Tributes

CHELKOWSKI "The Original Martha Stewart" The Original Martha Stewart passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008. Lucille Emilia Mikolajczyk Chelkowski was a classic woman with talents rarely found in today's society. A culinary artist, seamstress, home designer, and horticulture master, Lucille could do it all and do it perfectly. She could design a wedding dress Vera Wang would envy and create a feast Wolfgang Puck would drool over. A woman who created a beautiful world for those she loved is now sharing her gifts with the heavens. As a young child Lucille was raised on her grandparent's farm in St. Hedwig, Texas. This is where her love for the earth and all its creatures was established and nurtured. She carried this love throughout her life. There was not an animal on earth that did not make Lucille beam from ear to ear. She married Edmund Chelkowski in 1936 after a courtship comparable only to something out of Jane Austen novel. Her son, her pride and joy, Eddy Chelkowski was born in 1947. Both she and Edmund served their country during World War II while she worked at Kelly Army Air Field as a parachute packer. She was recognized for her ideas that were implemented in her work center. Her parachutes were used by the GI's during the D-Day invasion. She saved numerous lives with her parachutes, evidenced by a young soldier who found her name on a tag on his parachute, and came to see Lucille after the war to bring her a gift of French gold coins to thank her for saving his life. Her life with her husband and son was filled with fun, travel, and spontaneity. They lived in San Antonio, but had a weekend lake house in Kingsland where Lucille kept an immaculate vacation home and hosted wonderful parties. She would fish, water-ski, and entertain year after year. Lucile retired from the NEISD as the Churchill High School Cafeteria manager. She also managed cafeteria operations at various junior high and elementary schools. While at Churchill she worked with students as well as the athletic department to create menu and dietary programs tailored to student's needs. During this time she helped organize and establish a scholarship program for children of NEISD food service employees. After retirement Lucille worked in her peach orchard, entertained for her friends and family, and traveled the world with her husband of 65 years. She is survived by her son Eddy Chelkowski and his wife Marsha Chelkowski, her granddaughters Juliet Chelkowski and Kerrisa Chelkowski, and all of her grand dogs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, http://www.utopiarescue.com, or a charity of your choice. SERVICES Visitation will be held on Sunday-February 17, 2008 from 1:00PM until 4:00PM at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. A Graveside Service will be held on Monday-February 18, 2008 at 9:30AM at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. You may sign the on-line guestbook at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section. MISSION PARK NORTH 3401 CHERRY RIDGE SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78230 210 349-1414

Tributes

Lucille E. Chelkowski

March 21, 1916 - February 12, 2008