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




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Eileen Pawlik
Room Age Birthdate Grade B/G/T
211 13 10/27/45 8 Girl
Teacher
Sister Mary Helaine O'Neill, BVM
Address
908 N Trumbull 
Family
Father: Walter Pawlik
Mother: Estelle (Sufranski) Pawlik
Sister: Diane Pawlik
Grandparents: Joseph and Katherine Pawlik, and Margaret Szufnarowski 
About Eileen
Eileen's family have all passed away. Her sister Diane died in 1960 from leukemia. Her parents Walter and Estelle are both gone. They are all buried at St. Adalbert's in Niles. 
Interred: St. Adalbert (Niles, IL)
Memories of Eileen
I was only 11 years old when the fire happened, myself a student at St. Stanislaus B & M school. I didn't get to know Eileen very well as the only time we got together were at family fuctions. I saw Eileen for the last time at a wedding about three months before the fire. Eileen told me she was looking forward to her eighth grade graduation and high school. I always remember her in my prayers on Dec. 1st.
    -- (Bob Kruk, Cousin)
I remember dancing with Eileen at one of the 8th grade parties, where we had to get a list of 10 dance partners. It was a way to get the boys and girls to dance together, rather than have most of the girls dance together. Eileen was a very pretty girl, and I remember her being on my list of dance partners. I was a very lucky guy.

Ed Glanz
    -- (Ed Glanz, Classmate)


Eileen was funny -- droll -- and I always knew that I could depend upon her to have a sassy comment. It was hard to believe that someone so lively could die.
    -- (Michele Barale, Friend)
I was a friend of Eileen's sister, Diane. We both graduated in 1958 from Immaculata - we would refer to Diane's little sister as MY SISTER EILEEN - from the movie. It's 50 years and I can still see her sweet face and attitude - and Diane her older sister loved her dearly. Unfortunately Diane passed away in 1960; her parents suffered great losses within 2 years.

I felt compelled to write this and hope that from heaven above all those who left us that day will know that they will never be forgotten.

December 1, 1958 was a day for the whole neighborhood and will never be forgotten.

Sincerely,
C. Gloria Valentino (I lived at 712 N. Drake - OLA Graduate 1954).
    -- (C. Gloria Valentino/Class54, Friend)


My only memories of Eileen are the stories told by her mom and dad (my great aunt and uncle). My parents (Bruno and Enes Koprowski) and grandparents (Ben and Bernice Koprowski) had many stories to share. They tried to keep the stories happy but we always knew they ended too soon. As a child I would visit the house where Eileen grew up, her parents had many of her things and at times Aunt Stell would share them with me. We would sit in Eileen's bedroom with her stuff around us, and I remember her telling me what Eileen was like. This tragedy affected so many people beyond the initial shock. My prayers are with family, friends and loved ones that watch, remember and love, despite their sufferings.
    -- (Mary Jo Koprowski, Cousin)