Cynthia Wychocki

Anyone who knew Cindy, knew her big, bright smile, positive attitude, strength, and love for life. Cynthia (Perz) Wychocki was born September 9, 1950, the oldest of ten siblings. A Chicago native, she was a 1968 graduate of George Washington High School on Chicago’s Southeast-side, she earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University (1972) and attended Purdue University where she earned her Master’s in Education (1979).

Cindy started her teaching career in inner-city Chicago Public Schools and continued her calling teaching in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Cindy loved quilting, gardening, water aerobics, traveling around the world, Labrador Retrievers, and good parties. Cindy’s passions lead her to joining several quilt guilds over the years and becoming a Master Gardener where she helped local garden clubs, family, and friends with her expert botanical knowledge. Her passion for quilting and her incredible talent won her multiple blue-ribbon prizes over the years for her creativity and skill.

She married her high school sweetheart, Leonard Alexander Wychocki, in 1971. They celebrated over 52 years of married life together. They stuck together through many life challenges and are a true testament to love and loyalty. She loved to tell stories of how she pursued the most amazing man she had ever laid eyes on freshman year of high school until he finally fell in love with her. They were blessed with two children, a girl, and a boy, whom they raised in Schererville, Indiana and four grandchildren in whom she took great pride.

Cindy was a great friend, a beloved wife, mother, and Nana. She is loved and mourned by her husband Len, daughter Melissa (Wychocki) (Chris) Caldwell, son Nicholas (Melissa McCabe) Wychocki. She is also survived by her four grandchildren Alex Wychocki, Annabel Wychocki, Sayde Caldwell and Carter Caldwell. She is lovingly remembered by her seven sisters: Arlene Colontuono, Marie Rayburn, Kathy Mirabelli, Michealene Hale, Roseanne Brokop, Josephine Perz, Maxine Bernardi and two brothers Michael Perz and James Perz, their spouses, numerous nieces and nephews, godchildren, and many amazing lifelong friends.

She was predeceased by her mother and father, Joseph and Sabina (Lapcis) Perz, and mother- and father-in-law Rosemary (Majewski) and Leonard K. Wychocki and four Labrador Retrievers.

Cindy, thank you for modeling strength, positivity, and perseverance. You fought like hell for 12 years and never complained about the pain you endured. Your smile and will to live will endure and inspire all who were blessed to know you and count you as a friend.

If you were blessed to have received a quilt from Cindy over the years, know that every time you use it you are wrapping yourself in her warm hug and she is smiling down at you.

Catholic memorial services will be held at St. John Evangelist Church, 625 111th Ave. North, Naples FL 34108, on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow at 1737 Supreme Ct. Naples, FL 34110. Burial will be private.

A celebration of Cindy’s life will be held in Northwest Indiana at a future date.

The service will be available to watch via Live Stream and will also be available for 30 days. The service may be viewed at: https://sjecc.org/livestreams (click on the Funeral Mass link).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Cindy’s memory to Moffitt Cancer Center (see link below) https://fundraise.moffitt.org/CindyWychocki

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/naples-fl/cynthia-wychocki-11673842 for the Wychocki family.