Submitted by: Dan Rich

Theresa J. Botka

July 11, 1919 - Dec. 31, 2001

South Bend Tribune 1/2/2002

Theresa J. Botka, 82, of Alpine Ridge Ct., South Bend, died Monday at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, after a brief illness. She was born on July 11, 1919, in Batavia, Mich., to the late Nancy Karczewski and Martin Lukaszewski, and was a lifelong resident of the South Bend area. Mrs. Botka was formerly a telephone operator at Indiana Bell, sales associate at Mahowald's Luggage store in downtown South Bend and Veldman's Christmas Shop, and a member of the food services staff at St. Adalbert's Parish Hall.

As Theresa Lukaszewski, she married Albin S. Botka on Sept. 28, 1940, in South Bend. He preceded her in death on Jan. 2, 1991. Mrs. Botka is survived by a daughter, Donna (Thomas) Gruber of South Bend; three grandchildren, Tammy (Glenn) Duddleson and Tracy (James) Hickey of South Bend, and Gary (Wendy) Gruber of Barlett, Ill.; seven great-grandchildren, Alexis Duddleson, Quynn and Noah Hickey, and Ashley, Alex, Kyle and Jake Gruber; and two sisters, Annette Goralski and Alice (Harry) Lewandowski, both of South Bend. Preceding her in death were two brothers, Walter and Edward Lukaszewski; and three sisters, Clara Banicki, Mary Sikorski and Veronica Lukaszewski.

Mrs. Botka was a member of St. Casimir's Catholic Church, where she was a past president of the school's Parent-Teachers Association. She also was a former member of Daughters of Isabella and a Republican Sixth District Precinct Committeewoman in South Bend. She loved playing cards with her family, and was a friend to all who knew her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, with Rev. Camillo Tirabassi officiating. Entombment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, where the Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Corpus Christi School Building Fund or the Arthritis Society of St. Joseph County.