Apollonia Katzenmayer

Apollonia Katzenmayer February 9, 1931 - May 9, 2025 Apollonia Katzenmayer, 94, passed away on May 9, 2025, and has now found her place as a beautiful angel in Heaven. Born in Berak, Yugoslavia (now Croatia), Apollonia was a beloved wife, a caring mom, and a cherished friend to many. She was an amazing person for many reasons. She was forced to flee her homeland as a young woman, but as fate would have it, she ended up in Austria as a refugee, where she met a young man, fell in love, got married, and began a family. Her life’s journey didn’t stop there. With two very young children, very little money, and no knowledge of English, the difficult decision was made to seek out a better life for the family in America. They settled on living in Chicago, where after a few years a second son came long. Apollonia’s family heritage was not lost in America. They joined the American Aid Society of German Descendents, a German cultural organization that keeps the traditions, festivals, and way of life of the Old Country alive and well. Apollonia worked odd jobs here and there to help suppoort the family, but her number one job was to be a loving, dedicated wife and a quintessential homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and baker, always having a warm meal ready for the family, and cookies in the cookie jar, not to mention that she steadfastly took care of household chores, and meticulously tended to the garden. She loved her flowers and growing vegetables. One other love that came along later in life was her pet cockatiel Schatzie. It can be said that the bird was her fourth child. They gave each other comfort, coupled with happiness. It was a beautiful thing to see. Ask any of Apollonia’s friends, or fellow family members, and they will tell you just how kind, generous, and sincere she was. She was always ready to welcome you into the home, extend a helping hand, or make you laugh and smile. She shared her love, and brought joy to so many of us. She will be missed by all who knew her. Apollonia is preceded in death by Johann Katzenmayer, her husband for 68 years, her parents Johann and Maria Letscher (Schaffer), and her sister Magdalena (Albert) Stipsits, and her brother-in-law Clemens Katzenmayer. She is survived by her sister Waltraud Hummel, her three children, Sigrid Katzenmayer, John Katzenmayer, and Daniel (Andrea) Katzenmayer, her four grandchildren Erik Schlachter, Stephanie (Parker Stevens) Schlachter, Matthew Katzenmayer, and Erika Katzenmayer, and one great-grandchild, Cooper Stevens. She is also survived by her two sisters-in-law, Mary (Hagen) Dost, and Elisabeth (Michael) Hermann, and friends Angelika Kappel and Judy Hammerich. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. Emily Parish, 1400 E. Central Rd, Mt. Prospect, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Aid Society of German Descendants (www.americanaidsocietyofgd.org). The arrangements have been entrusted to Matz Mt. Prospect Funeral Chapel 410 E. Rand Rd., Mt. Prospect, IL 60056. For further information please call Matz Funeral Home (847) 394-2336.