Lucille M. Zink, 85, taught for 20 years in a Catholic elementary school but also was well known as a substitute teacher who worked in north and northwest suburban schools until just five years ago.
“Everybody knew Mrs. Zink,” said Roseanne Johansson, a former daughter-in-law who remained close to the family. “She loved teaching. She just loved children.”
Mrs. Zink, of Niles, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, of Alzheimer’s disease at Maryhaven Nursing Home in Glenview.
She taught for 35 years, finally retiring at age 80.
“Education was very important to her,” said her daughter Jackie Pomerantz.
Mrs. Zink had taught at St. John Brebeuf Catholic School in Niles before becoming a full-time substitute teacher for several school districts, including Niles, Morton Grove and Maine Township.
According to her family, she often stressed the importance of a good education to her children and grandchildren. She also was a stickler for grammar, which was something of a family joke.
“You had to be very careful how you spoke around her or she would correct you,” Johansson said with a laugh.
Mrs. Zink was born in Chicago and raised in Des Plaines. She graduated from Maine East High School and married Walter Zink, her husband of 57 years. She eventually returned to school to obtain her teaching degree from DeLourdes College in Des Plaines, graduating in 1976.
Mrs. Zink was one of 10 children and had six of her own. Pomerantz said she was the ultimate organizer.
“She would organize many family functions. Her philosophy was, `If you’re cooking for 10, what’s a few more?'” her daughter said. “We grew up in a three-bedroom, one-bath house and frequently there were 30 or more people in it.”
Mrs. Zink was an accomplished baker who made cakes for special events in the lives of her children and grandchildren, using sugar mold characters as decorations. Often, she would awaken at 5 a.m. to bake cookies before school to take to a neighbor or an ill friend.
“I can’t imagine there are many houses in Niles that have not received at least one plate of her cookies,” Pomerantz said.
Mrs. Zink was an active volunteer in the community and organized local fundraising drives for the American Cancer Society. It was a cause dear to her heart because several of her siblings had died of cancer, Pomerantz said. She would round up donations from neighbors and local businesses, often taking on large areas when she couldn’t find volunteers.
“When she couldn’t find somebody, she would just take over herself,” Pomerantz said.
She and her husband spent many weekends rooting for her grandchildren at sporting events or attending school events.
The couple spent family vacations in northern Wisconsin for more than 40 years.
Survivors include her husband, Walter; four sons, John, Joel, Doug and Terry; another daughter, Janice Zink; a sister, Marcela Solberg; three brothers, Al Angsten, Robert Angsten and Thomas Angsten; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church, 8307 N. Harlem Ave., Niles.
