Dorothy M. Hlavacek OBITUARY

Dorothy M. Hlavacek OBITUARY

Dorothy Marie Ufer Hlavacek, age 91, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2026, under the care of the Alexian Brothers (Elk Grove, IL). Born February 14, 1935, to William and Marguerite J. (Chewning) Ufer in Chicago, IL, Dorothy was a proud graduate of Steinmetz High and Moser Business College and enjoyed a successful career as an executive secretary for J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency and later as executive secretary for Mystik Adhesive Products to the Director of Marketing and Advertising. On May 23, 1959, she married the love of her life, Eugene L. Hlavacek, after a long and storied courtship. With a twinkle in her eye, she would recount their chance meeting in a jewelry store where Gene worked; “His jet-black hair and dark-brown eyes you could drown in.” They married on May 23, 1959, and moved to Arlington Heights, IL, where five children were born. The bustling family soon outgrew the home and moved to Palatine, IL, where they raised their family, hosted holiday parties, baby and bridal showers, and backyard cookouts for 55 years. Dorothy, with seemingly inexhaustible energy, was active in the children’s lives. She championed the installation of sidewalks to connect her neighbors and ensure children’s safe passage to and from school. She was a Camp Fire and Kayati District leader for 12 years, recognized with the Shawnequa, the Wakan, and the Charlotte J. Farnsworth awards. And led the Marion Group at St. Theresa Parish, for which Cardinal Bernadine awarded her the St. Anne Medal during a ceremony held at Holy Name Cathedral. She was tireless in helping her children with their schoolwork, collecting bugs for science projects, sewing costumes, and driving them to sports, music and dance lessons, and church events. Dorothy took great pride in keeping a tidy home and having supper on the table every night, facilitating dinner-time conversations that unveiled the day’s hidden stories. Dorothy pursued her hobbies with similar vigor. She made pillows and lifelong friendships as a member of the St. Anthony Guild. A devout genealogist involved with the Eli Skinner Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, holding the offices of Honorary Regent, after serving as Regent, 2nd Vice Regent, Chaplain, Registrar, Music Chairman, and many other chairmanships. She, too, was a member of the Lac des Illinois Chapter (National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century) and shared her love of discovery as a volunteer in the genealogy rooms at the Arlington Heights and Elgin libraries for 20 years. Her passion for genealogy stemmed from her endless curiosity about her family’s history, where they came from, what they’d seen, and how we, as a family, arrived in this moment. Handed down to her from her mother, music was integral to Dorothy’s life. She brought joy to the soldiers stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes, singing jazz standards, and heeded the advice of Saint Augustine (“He who sings prays twice), performing in St. Theresa Catholic Church’s Adult and Resurrection Choirs (which she did for more than 30 years), where she, too, served as a Lector. But mostly, she brought music into her home, leading sing-alongs from the piano, while washing dishes (“I’m forever washing dishes!”), and dropping the needle on My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music, fostering a love of music in all her children. Above all, Dorothy’s life was defined by the epic love story of her 65-year marriage to Eugene; love witnessed by the way they looked at each other while dancing in one another’s arms in the kitchen, and, too, by the way they made decisions together, offered each other grace, and committed to falling in love each day. Dorothy is survived by her children, Kenneth (Deanna) Hlavacek, Cathie Anne (George) Niman, Laura Jane (Mark) Rabideau, Larry (Jill Rae) Hlavacek, and Anne Marie (John) Coombes, grandchildren, Melanie (Cole) Rzepka, Douglas (Danielle) Hlavacek, Thomas (Fernanda) Hlavacek, Amanda (Carson) Sturtevant, Hannah (Ryan) Maro, Mary Pauline, Luke, and Aidan Sheridan-Rabideau, Mitchell and Jason Hlavacek, Sarah (Sean) Rodney, James, Joseph, and Michelle Coombes, and great-grandchildren, Jadyn, Shaelyn, Danielle, and Jack Hlavacek, and Mason Gene Maro. She, too, is survived by her sister, Nancy (Michael) Callaham, brother-in-law Al Golemo, and her many cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Marguerite (Chewning) Ufer, sister, Virginia (Ufer) Golemo, husband, Eugene L. Hlavacek, and son, Thomas Edwin Hlavacek. Memorial donations may be made to St. Theresa Catholic Church, Palatine, IL, or Alexian Brothers Residence Hospice, Elk Grove, IL. A visitation will be held Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 4-8PM at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy., Palatine. Funeral prayers will be said at 9:30AM on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the funeral home with a procession to St. Theresa Parish for a 10AM Mass. Interment St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery. For info, 847-359-8020 or www.smithcorcoran.com.