Danielle Kubicz

Danielle Kubicz (nee Roman), 78, passed away at home in Lyons, IL, on November 8, 2024.

Danielle was born on February 15, 1946, in Germany, to Frank and Kathryna (Paczko) Roman.  Frank and Kathryn met on a forced-labor farm during WWII and were married in Germany in 1945 after the war ended.  They immigrated through Ellis Island, sponsored by a family in New Jersey, when Danielle was only 5.  Her parents worked on that family’s farm to pay off their debt, and then moved their small family to Chicago.

Danielle graduated from St. Ann’s elementary and high school (1964).

She lived in SanFrancisco from 1965 - 1968, attending live concerts of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and the Grateful Dead, many at the famed Filmore West.  She loved Elvis and saw him live with her friend Helen.

Danielle married William Kubicz at St Ann’s Parish on May 31, 1969.  During their 55 year marriage, they traveled often.  Madrid, Spain was a favorite spot, but they also visited Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, England, France, the Virgin Islands, and Tahiti.  When they later traveled with their children, they would take separate flights with each child so no one would be left alone in the case of tragedy.  They made sure that their children were exposed to a wider world view.

Danielle worked for the Chicago Library Association, Greenpeace, and for St Ann’s Parish as the parish secretary from the mid-eighties until her retirement in 2012.  

It would be hard to find a person whose love of animals and the environment surpassed Danielle’s.  She held nature classes in the backyard, which she always kept slightly wild to support local wildlife, for her young children and their friends.  If ever anyone found an odd stray animal in the neighborhood, they brought it directly to the Kubicz house.  This resulted in a menagerie, over time, of a rooster, several ducks, many dogs, cats, a dove, a snake, a hamster, and a guinea fowl.  She gave annual gifts to many animal rescue and environmental organizations. She reduced, reused, and recycled.  She engendered in her children a life-long love and respect for the Earth.

Danielle also loved anything unusual and beautiful.  She kept a list of unique names, had an unusual rock collection, and her collection of Lladros is legendary.  She loved to taste unique foods and loved beautiful art.

She is survived by her husband Bill, son Alan (Kelly), daughter Christina (Jim) Kallenborn, granddaughter Ella Kallenborn, and sister Irene Roman.  She will be dearly missed by life-long friends.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Frank and Kathryn Roman, and her mother in law, Bernice Kubicz.

The family will receive visitors at Heritage Funeral Home, 3117 S Oak Park Ave, Berwyn, IL, on Thursday, November 14 from 3pm until 8pm.  A prayer service is scheduled on Friday, November 15 at 9:00am at Heritage Funeral Home, directly followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery, 7201 Archer Road, Justice.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to World Wildlife Fund(https://www.worldwildlife.org/), The Nature Conservancy (https://www.nature.org/en-us/), or The Gorilla Fund (https://gorillafund.org/) are appreciated.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.