Regina R. Sabalaskey

Westville- Regina R. Sabalaskey, 92, passed away peacefully at home very early in the morning of Mothers Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Regina was born on December 28, 1931, in Hegeler, IL, to Konstanty and Cecilia (Ligocki) Nieminski. She was given the nickname "Gink" by her childhood friend, Bill Gilbreath. Regina married John E. Sabalaskey on April 28, 1956, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Westville. John passed away on October 6, 2017.

Regina is survived by five children, John P. (Mary Jo) of Lake Forest, IL, Bob (Chrissy) of Carol Stream, IL, Jim (Amy) of Carol Stream, IL, Joe (Heather) of Westville, IL, and Jodi (Scott) Hart of Georgetown, IL; eighteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; several dearly beloved nieces including Debbie (Paul) Shannon, Vicki (Steve) Miethe, Linda (Ken) Overacker, Mary Kay (John) Piper, Ramona (Jeff) Davis, Melissa (Skip) Behm, Petra (Larry) Nielsen, a nephew, John Garrison; a sister-in-law, Mary Vogel; and Reginas beloved kitties, Rizzo and Ronni. Grandchildren include: Wesley (Abby) Sutton, Jennifer Sutton, Brittany (Julian) Posada, Christopher (Katherine) Sutton, Mary Claire Sabalaskey, Olivia Sabalaskey, Ryan Sabalaskey, Jessi Sabalaskey, Syndie (Sean Lofgran) Sablik, Tracy (John) Hogan, Austin Sabalaskey, Wyatt Sabalaskey, Abby Sabalaskey, Peyton Sabalaskey, Emily Clements, Evan Clements, Owen Clements, and Hunter Hart. Great-grandchildren include: Brandon Sutton, Vanessa Sutton, Austin Sutton, Eric Posada, Logan Sabalaskey, Mayson Sabalaskey, Grayson Sabalaskey, Cheriden Sablik and Carrigan Sablik.

Regina was preceded in death by her husband, John, a daughter, Gina Sabalaskey Sutton (Mendel) of Miami, FL, her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, Pearl and Oren Cunningham, her brother and sister-in-law, Edwin and Rose (Timko) Nieminski, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, John J. and Mary Sabalaskey, a sister-in-law, Margaret Garrison, two brothers-in-law, Raymond Vogel and Perry Garrison, a niece, Mary Vogel, and two nephews, Skip and Jim Nieminski.

She was a graduate of Westville High School, where she met her future husband, John. After graduation, Regina worked for Illinois Bell Telephone for several years. She accompanied her husband to both Oklahoma and Venezuela as he served in the U.S. Army. Regina and John returned to Hegeler, IL, from Venezuela in 1957 after Johns U.S. Army service duty was complete and several months before the birth of their first child, Gina. They completed and moved into their Westville house when their second child, John P., was one year old. Regina lived in that same house until the day of her passing.

While possessing many skills and interests, Reginas primary interest and true vocation was motherhood and she excelled at it. Perhaps to put an exclamation point on this, she passed away on Mothers Day in her home under framed baby photos of each of her six children. She dedicated her life to raising her young children and then giving guidance to them as adults, as well as to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In spite of her age, Regina was a "high-tech" mother and grandmother, utilizing her cell phone and iPad to call or text family members daily, as well as to watch her grandchildrens softball and baseball games. Regina was humble and had a wonderful sense of humor. She could think quickly on her feet, and come up with clever one liners that would bring a smile to family members and others. Reginas passing has left a huge hole in the heart of each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed terribly.

Regina always made her home a welcoming center of family celebrations. Christmas was especially important to her. Beginning in the Fall of each year, Regina (with the help of her children) would transform her house into a Christmas wonderland complete with two full-size decorated Christmas trees, 12-inch tall nativity set figures that she hand painted (later hand painting the same large nativity sets for her children), mantel displays, illuminated Santa and reindeer on her roof, and outdoor Christmas lights decorating her yard and outlining her house. A family gathering complete with cookouts, parade watching, and cornhole tournaments would also be held at Reginas house during Labor Day weekend each year.

Regina loved gardening, spending hours with her husband in their vegetable garden as well as harvesting cherries, rhubarb, and apples from their yard. Regina canned countless quarts of tomatoes, as well as prepared delicious homemade cherry pies, rhubarb pies, apple pies, and applesauce from their annual harvests. Until her eyesight failed in the past few years, she enjoyed watching cooking shows, reading cooking magazines, and trying new dessert recipes.

Regina loved sports and, as a life-long Chicago Cubs fan, was thrilled to see the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. A sidewalk brick bearing Reginas and her husbands names along with the phrase "Go, Cubbies!" is located in the walkway surrounding Wrigley Field behind left field. Regina also enjoyed construction work, building additions to their house, as well as two single-family houses for sale, with her husband and children. She was no stranger to performing such tasks as climbing up onto a roof to nail down shingles, and to mixing mortar to be used to lay bricks. She also loved spending many hours fishing with her husband until early 2015 when he suffered a stroke that significantly limited his physical activities and she became his full-time caregiver.

Since childhood, Regina always had a soft spot in her heart for animals. Over the years she has loved numerous pets (e.g., Ginger, Oliver, Tigger, etc.) of her own as well as many grand-puppies and grand-kitties. She also took care of wild animals, providing weekly refills of nearly a dozen bird feeders in her yard, and peanuts and cookies for opossums and squirrels (especially "Gus" who was one of the squirrels she hand-fed and was shown on WCIA News/Facebook).

Always devoted to her Catholic faith, Regina prayed a daily rosary and was a long-time member of the Altar & Rosary Society at St. Marys Catholic Church in Westville, IL.

Visitation will be held from 6 - 9 pm on Friday, May 17, 2024 at Sunset Funeral Homes Urbas Chapel, located at 414 S. State Street, Westville, IL. A rosary will be prayed prior (all are welcome) beginning at 5:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Father Timothy Saupp will be offered for Regina at 10 am on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at St. Marys Catholic Church, 231 N. State Street, Westville, IL. Internment will immediately follow at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Westville.

Services Recitation of the Rosary Friday May 17, 2024 5:30 PM Sunset-Urbas Funeral Chapel 414 S. State Street Westville, , IL 61883 Visitation Friday May 17, 2024 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Sunset-Urbas Funeral Chapel 414 S. State Street Westville, , IL 61883 Mass of Christian Burial Saturday May 18, 2024 10:00 AM St. Mary's Catholic Church 231 N State St Westville,, Illinois 61883