Rosebud Sunich

AURORA, Wis. - Rosebud C. Sunich, 80, of Antioch, Ill., formerly of Aurora, passed away in her sleep on the morning of Saturday, July 21, 2007, at the Victory Lakes Continuing Care Center in Lindenhurst, Ill. She was born May 5, 1927, in Aurora, eldest daughter of the late Herbert and Marie (Schneider) Smith. In 1945, Rosebud left Aurora to attend her nurse's training at the American Hospital in Chicago. She graduated with honors as a registered nurse in 1949. Rosebud specialized in surgery and had a very special bond with a plethora of her fellow nurse's training classmates, which she remained close with over the years. She later transferred to the Thorec Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, where she became the head surgical nurse for Dr. Max Thorec and Dr. Philip Thorec. Rosebud married Frank M. Sunich at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aurora on March 17, 1951, and they resided in Chicago. Frank Sunich was a conductor for the C&NW Railroad. On April 16, 1956, Rosebud gave birth to their son, Philip, who was to be their only child due to an Rh factor. The family moved from Chicago to reside on the Chain of Lakes in Antioch, in 1960 and this remained their family domicile. Rosebud became a housewife and after Philip graduated from St. Peter's Elementary School in Antioch, she returned to her nursing career and obtained additional degrees in nursing while working with Dr. Vermairen in Antioch. Pursuant to her love of surgery and surgical nursing, she continued her nursing career as the supervisor of the 4-West Surgical Wing of Victory Memorial Hospital in Waukegan, Ill. In 1977, when her husband, Frank became ill, she immediately took a sabbatical from her nursing career to travel the world with and take care of her husband, who past away in May 1979. It's quite telling how Frank's physicians initially only gave him less than four months to live, however, with much credit to Rosebud's love, devotion and quality of nursing, actually became nearly two years which included a very high quality of life up until the last couple of weeks. Frank and Rosebud loved to travel with their family and truly enjoyed the Big Band Era, further noting that as a couple, they were well accomplished ballroom dancers. After Frank's passing when Rosebud returned to nursing, she was again the supervisor of the Surgical Wing for the Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, Ill. Even in her retirement years, she continued and maintained her registered nurse's certification in both Illinois and Wisconsin. Rosebud is survived by one son, Philip (Patricia) Sunich of Bristol, Wis.; two adopted sisters, Marie (Dennis) Ahern of Menominee, and JoAnn (Ronald) Erickson of Spread Eagle, Wis.; grandchildren, Crystal (Timothy) Lind of Fox Lake, Ill., Ava (Eric) Bosack of Ingleside, Ill., and Frank Sunich of Bristol and five great-granddaughters, Lily, Destiny, Mariska, Savannah, and Erica. Friends and acquaintances may call on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home with Fr. Daniel Zaloga officiating. Burial will be in Cemetery Park. Condolences to the family of Rosebud C. Sunich can be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Rosebud Sunich

July 21, 1927 - July 21, 2007