Regina Joan Giczi

Regina Joan Giczi, 102 years and 235 days old, of South Bend, IN, passed away on December 15th, 2024, at Cedarhurst Senior Living, Mishawaka. IN. She was born on April 24, 1922 in Slupca, Poland, to Casimir and Sabina (Walowski) Litka.  Reg is known for her love of family, great cooking skills and as a community volunteer, active into her 90s.

Her birth in Poland was unexpected. Not knowing she was pregnant, her mother, Sabina, embarked on a trip to Europe, with sons Joseph and Clem, to visit relatives and assist her own mother through an illness.  In December, 1922, the family of now three children, returned to the U.S.

Regina grew up in the Polish neighborhood surrounding St. Adalbert’s Church on South Bend’s West Side.  She graduated from Washington High School’s Class of 1940 and enjoyed participating in athletics, earning a letter sweater.  After high school, she attended beauty school and worked for various local salons, later establishing her own.

She met her husband, Joseph J. Giczi, Jr., prior to his leaving for World War II service as an aircraft mechanic in the Army Air Corps. They corresponded during the war and Joe sought her out when he returned back home. They were married on October 19, 1946, and raised their family in South Bend.

Reginia was active in organizations such as the Daughters of Isabella, Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, the Golden Cluster and the Holy Rosary Sodality of Holy Family Catholic Church.  She and her husband were frequently asked to chair social and fund-raising events.  At Holy Family Parish she was a regular volunteer at school activities, helped maintain church linens for over 25 years, and was a cook at the parish’s weekly bingo games and the annual festival for 15 years.  She was an ongoing volunteer for St. Joseph Medical Center’s “TeleCare” program.  Even in her 90s she would make calls to other senior adults to offer a friendly ear and check on their well-being.  Reg also enjoyed meeting people as an usher at Morris Performing Arts Center events and volunteering at the History Museum / Studebaker National Museum.

She was a great proponent of education and took extreme pride that all three of her children graduated from college.

On her 100th birthday, Kathy Borlik wrote a feature article for the South Bend Tribune about Regina’s life, you can find it here. https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/lifestyle/2022/05/09/poland-south-bend-she-brings-love-family-books-football/9617616002/

Regina will be greatly missed by her children Greg (Mary Beth McGill), Brian and Regina Ann (“Reggie”), granddaughter Alexis Giczi and grandson Joseph Giczi, all of South Bend.   She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband. and her four siblings, Joseph, Clem, Marion and Alfrieda (Micinski).

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm. A rosary will be prayed at 5:30 pm in the funeral home.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 20, 2024 at Holy Family Church, 56405 Mayflower Road, South Bend at 10:30 am with visitation to be held from 10:00 am until 10:30 am at the church. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Regina’s honor to a charity of your choice. 

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