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Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) School Fire, December 1, 1958


In Memory of Charlene Campanale Benza Jancik
1949-2003
Charlene 1958
 
Charlene 2002
Charlene A. Jancik, President of Friends of OLA passed away on November 30, 2003. She was hospitalized on October 15 with a brain aneurysm, and underwent surgery a week later. A few days later she went into a coma and never regained consciousness. Her tragic passing was a crushing loss for her family and her many, many friends.

At the age of 9, Charlene survived the Our Lady of the Angels school fire on December 1, 1958 by jumping from a window in her room 210 second floor classroom. She suffered a broken back and pelvis in the jump, and spent months in traction in the hospital, and over a year in a body brace.

In 2003, Charlene became President of the newly reconstituted Friend of OLA group. She was a motivated and energetic leader for the group, excited about working toward achieving the group's many goals.

She will be forever missed, never forgotten.

If you have a memory or sentiment about Charlene you would like to add to this page, click the button below.
krystal/ friend 01/08/2012 20:30 19
she was the best friend i ever had. May she rest in peace.

Mary Schittino/ Campo 05/11/2011 09:27 18
I have very many good, fun memories of Charlene. Memories of the old neighberhood at her house with her grandma, OLA activities. What a lovely person she was, very giving and lots of fun!!!

Donalee Cousin 12/01/2010 22:44 17
After Char got out of her bondage of beds, braces and pains, she would come to our house. we would laugh and pretend to jump on beds, but really just roll around on the floor, laughing our heads off! Love you Char, put in a good word for me.

Monica McVay (LaRocco) 11/04/2009 21:24 16
What a great lady. She was the one who talked me through talking with my father about his OLA experiences, and as a result, he was able to finally address feelings he had tucked away for 40 years. That time of reconnection he had with his fellow classmates was amazing... devine you could say... Charlene.... I remember her vividly being such a tiger about getting people together. She had everything going for her in that respect- she was there on December 1st! She knew what it was like to jump from the flames.... and she knew what it was like to push feelings away. Charlene credited her husband as the one who was able to get her to face her emotions she had previously held back (she said she was so lucky to have married a psychologist!)... and because she did face them, so many people felt safe in coming forward & opening their heart. On top of all that she had a great personality, a great smile, and she made sure you knew that the impossible was possible. Charlene touched my life, and made a huge difference to an entire community. Everytime I see a silver Chrysler PT Cruisers... I think of her.

kristy 08/25/2009 22:27 15
your right she will be remembered

Christine B 08/30/2004 11:20 14
I never was blessed with the opportunity to meet Charlene. I originally saw the story of the OLA Fire on channel 11 here. It was when Charlene was in the hospital that I actually went to the old school grounds. Went to the little Church. Trying to understand for myself how such a tragedy could occur? So much pain and anguish. A horrible tragedy!!! I wasn't even born at that time. My father lived in chicago then, and has his own memories. My mother as well. But the story so touched me, it seemed a pilgrimage there might give me answers. Being Christian. The whole event, seemed to lead me deeper into my Faith. Rather then away. Charlenes strength and stamina. Her ability to overcome, I feel are ideals everyone needs to learn. Forgiveness, compassion. She was a teacher as well, worked hard to bridge the gaps this tragedy created. When Charlene passed on, it may seem strange, but I felt I had lost a friend. I wanted to tell her how much her life has touched mine. In such positive ways~ Everyone involved in this process. You-all touch peoples lives in such positive ways!! Thank You all for sharing your stories, memories with us. Keeping the memory of this tragedy alive. Honoring those who were killed. People need that. By honoring those who pass before us, we can truly honor ourselves~ May God Bless us all~~

Donnale Steinkuller 05/16/2004 10:12 13
I didn"t know Charlene personally,only through my husband Rexy and her Christmas cards and adorable pet photos,Charlene and Rexy were cousins.I truely miss out knowing a wonderful women with the stories Rexy has shared with me of their chilhood together and the beautiful sentiments of those that have written of knowing her on here.Rexy and I have been married 34 years,that would make her smile knowing that.Our hearts and prayers go to her family and loved ones and her many friends Angels be with you all Rexy,Donnale,Stacey

Mike Bergstrom 02/13/2004 00:36 12
I found this site during my research of the OLA Fire. At some point, I contacted Charlene to ask about what I could do to help out. After that, we began swapping emails here and there, talking about our lives, families, etc. I only knew this lady through the emails we exchanged - but it was easy to see what a nice and caring person she was. She always seemed to include a compliment or a word of encouragement in every response. It was a real pleasure talking with her. To her family: I'm so sorry for your loss - My heartfelt sympathies go out to all of you.

marie mancuso (pasquinelli) 01/27/2004 08:50 10
My friend Joann Kinzel and I use to babysit for Charlene and her cousin Rexy - can anyone tell me how Rexy is doing. charlene is a special person, we lived down the street from her, 1028 N. Springfield, my prayers are with her and her family

Mary123 01/13/2004 00:56 9
I never met, never emailed, never spoke with Charlene. I only knew her from what I read on this website, newspaper articles and television interviews. And yet, how I miss her livliness and open braveness. The news of her dying dimmed a bright light. Sometimes, out of the blue, I am struck again with the sense of "how can somebody that much alive be gone?" Intellectually I know it's so but in my heart it's unthinkable. I remember once reading a post on the message board that said when someone we love dies, love survives the devastation and in time, if we stay open to it, heals. It's the staying open to life's healing forces that gets hard. But that's what Charlene showed me -- a brave openess to life's healing forces. And the wonder of people coming together.

Terry C. Lowe 01/11/2004 19:48 8
I am amazed at how much time Charlene must have spent reading and writing e-mails and talking on the phone! Like many of you, I never met Charlene in person, but my wife and I felt that we had known her all our lives. She had a wonderful way of inviting you to join her in experiencing her life, and she really lived! In my initial e-mail to Charlene I asked some questions about the fire, etc. and she responded by not only answering my questions, but posing many of her own, particularly regarding my understanding of God, His role in the fire and subsequent events, His role in the survivors' lives, and most particularly His role in hers, Wayne's, Matthew's, and other family members' lives. We exchanged many, many e-mails, with some of them including insights from my wife, Judy. It was a privilege to have known Charlene Jancik and have her life touch Judy's and mine as it did. We are the richer for it! Wayne, it has been a joy to visit with you by e-mail and phone. May God richly bless you as He draws you, Matt and all the rest of Charlene's family closer and closer to Himself. Thanks, Charlene, for sharing your life so freely as you did!

Jim Grosso 12/29/2003 19:08 7
It's taken a while for me to post this because it's still difficult to think that Charlene won't be at any more FOLA meetings or events. She was the ideal president of FOLA, or any volunteer organization - she was motivated, friendly, enthusiastic, sensitive to others, and could make things happen without stepping on anyone's toes, which is remarkable considering the number of "Bozo shoes" you come across these days. She left a huge responsibility for the rest of us. We've got to do whatever we can now to complete what we started. We have to do it for Charlene.

Darlene Krauss 12/29/2003 15:02 6
Charlene was such an inspiration to me. I met her through another website after Angels Too Soon was televised. Through e-mails she only had nice things to say about me. We had the opportunity to meet two months later. When we sent e-mails to each other she always told me that I was a great writer. As both of us sat eating turtle cheesecake for dessert, I told her I want to write a book called Feeling Fit and Fabulous at Fifty. Well, Charlene if I am going to write that book I have to stop eating turtle cheesecake, start eating broccoli and shake my booty. You will be truely missed but always remembered.

Jim Flanagan 12/27/2003 23:41 5
I met Charlene through the OLA website in February of 2003. I am a teacher in Upstate New York and with Charlene's permission, I shared her Fire story with my high school and college students. I also shared Charlene's own account of how her 8th grade nun told the graduating Fire survivors that they had been spared that day in 1958 because God had big plans for them and they had the task of making the world a better place. Planning a project together, Charlene and I exchanged many, many e-mails and letters. We chatted on-line and we also had the opportunity to speak on the telephone several times. We became friends and I was inspired by her sense of humor, her many and varied interests, her courage and her determination. She was a remarkably accepting individual and she had more energy than anybody I know. I was coming to the conclusion, when she explained her daily activities, that she simply did not eat or sleep. Most importantly, of course, Charlene was doing exactly what her nun had urged. She was making the world a better place and from what she shared with me, it was remarkably obvious that she willingly, openly and constantly gave of herself to her family, her friends and her students. I truly miss Charlene and will carry her spirit with me. I am blessed to have been able to know dear Charlene Jancik.

Tom Margherone 12/27/2003 17:58 4
My sincere and heartfelt sympathies to Charlene's family. I too, never got the opportunity to meet Char, however our phone calls and emails were a delight. She was such a wonderful and caring lady. Her efforts with FOLA will go on forever.

JOSEPH CAMPANALE 12/26/2003 18:21 3
I WAS CHARLENE'S BIOLOGACAL FATHER MARRIED THEN TO HER MOTHER LAVERNE SWIERCZYNSKI. A FEW YEARS AGO CHARLENE FOUND ME AGAIN AND SHE CAME TO MEXICO WHERE I NOW LIVE AND WE HAD A GREAT VISIT TOGETHER. I THEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIST HER AGAIN AND MY GRANDCHILD MATTHEW AND HER HUSBAND WAYNE. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO READ "SLEEPING WITH THE ANGELS" AND ALSO ATTEDED OLA WHEN I WAS A CHILD. SO I KNEW WHAT OLA WAS. IT WAS FIRE TRAP THEN AND IT ALMOST KILLED MY DAUGHTER, CHARLENE. LUCKILY I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE TO SEE HER BEFORE HER DEATH. AND RE-LIVE SOME OF OUR PAST. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO LAVERNE HER MOTHER AND ALL HER PRESENT FAMILY. I WILL MISS HER FOREVER MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS HER AND ALL THOSE IN HER PRESENT FAMILY. SHE WAS A TRUE ANGEL IN MY MIND AND HEART.

Joyce Peneschi 12/23/2003 12:04 2
Charlene was a delightful child growing up, she was very friendly to everyone she met. The tradgy of the School fire, and her own injuries, only deepened her kindness,and empathy to all the people she met. There is no doubt she will be surly missed. I'm glad to have known her. She was a real Angel here, and now she is a Angel in Heaven.

Eric Morgan (webmaster) 12/21/2003 14:56 1
Charlene and I became good friends via email back in February of 2003 when she discovered this website. We often talked late into the night (via email) on a wide range of topics, from OLA to family to religion to trains. She was such a delightful person, warm and friendly, generous and giving, insightful and funny. I am so sorry I never had the opportunity to meet her in person. She was extremely helpful to me with the website, offering suggestions, providing information, photos, contacts and ideas. I will always treasure and be grateful for my brief friendship with Charlene. My deepest sympathies to Wayne, Matthew and all her family.