Claudia Ann Strack, 57, of Naperville, an avid volunteer who worked to make new neighbors feel at home, died of cancer Wednesday, May 1, in her home.
Born in the Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side, Mrs. Strack graduated from Lourdes High School and attended the University of Illinois for a year. She lived in Naperville for the last 20 years.
Shortly after moving to Naperville, she joined the Newcomers group, and began making many new friends by helping new residents acclimate to the area. She also served on the group’s board of directors and did fundraising for local charities.
“She was very good at adapting to change and through her work with Newcomers she showed others how to do it as well,” said her husband, Jerry. “She loved getting to know the community and learning about the many services it had to offer.”
For several years, Mrs. Strack volunteered at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, where she helped plant flowers and maintain gardens.
“Gardening was her thing, so she didn’t mind the grunt work,” her husband said. “Having her hands in dirt was total joy for her.”
Mrs. Strack, who loved animals, also volunteered at the Naperville Humane Society, where she was involved with its pet therapy program. Her duties included bringing trained dogs to visit local senior centers and nursing homes.
“She was a very gentle person and great with dogs,” said her husband. “She also had a way with the elderly and knew just what to say and do to cheer them up.”
After cancer was diagnosed in her in 1999, Mrs. Strack was given less than six months to live. She then received 49 chemotherapy treatments and developed her own herbal treatment. She also received acupuncture treatments during the last three years.
“She was a real survivor and did everything she could to learn about the disease and how to fight it,” her husband said.
Other survivors include a son, Mark; a daughter, Pamela Bengtson; her mother, Helen Pepol; a brother, Dean Pepol; a sister, Paulette Maslick; and two grandchildren.
Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 1450 Green Trails Drive, Naperville.
