Gabriela was a worldly woman from the very beginning of her life. She was born in Constanța, Romania to Halina Maria Szczepanowska and Julian Roman Kuhajewski and was their only child. She was raised in Santiago, Chile and immigrated to the United States at age 16 to New York where she attended Bay Ridge High School in Brooklyn. From New York, she and her parents made their way to Chicago. At first, she found Chicago small compared to bustling New York, but over the years and decades, Chicago is where she always referred to as “home” and where she met her beloved husband of 52 years, Michael.
Gabriela earned her Bachelor of Arts in Film from Columbia College, graduating in 1968. Prior to joining WMAQ-NBC Chicago, she was a film editor for Encyclopedia Britannica and also briefly worked for the Consulate of Venezuela, given her fluent Spanish. During her remarkable 38+ years at NBC, she was a camera-woman, film editor and supervisor, and shop steward for her local union, NABET-CWA. She earned two Emmy nominations for her editing of “Beauty Passed Away” and “The Battle of Napoleon Hollow,” and was presented with the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award in 1995. Put simply, Gabriela was a pioneer for women in broadcast television and inspired many people during her lifetime - but none more than her daughter and only child, Idalia.
As someone who always dressed to the nines and loved jewelry and design, the stars aligned when Gabriela took a buy-out from NBC in 2007 and shortly thereafter, opened a jewelry store with her daughter, The Black Pearl, in South Haven, Michigan. As with anything Gabriela set out to achieve, her business blossomed and she enjoyed traveling to various trade-shows across the country with her “munchkin.” Notably, Gabriela also convinced her husband to grow grapes for wine in Michigan, resulting in many delicious bottles of wine that she enthusiastically shared with family and friends.
A visitation is scheduled for 11:15 am on Friday, September 27th at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (1775 Grove St, Glenview, IL) immediately followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 12 pm and an Interment at All Saints Cemetery (700 N River Rd, Des Plaines, IL).
We’ll be remembering and celebrating Gabriela’s remarkable life and ensuring her legacy continues with a Celebration of Life at Trattoria Poretta (3656 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL) following Interment. Please bring any photos and stories you would like to share. Friends and family have always known Gabriela as a colorful and vibrant person; as such, please don’t be afraid to wear a pop of color or any accessories she would have enjoyed (i.e. jewelry, scarves, high heels, etc.)
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Chordoma Foundation: https://impact.chordomafoundation.org/fundraiser/5805656
For any further questions or concerns you are welcome to call us at Malec and Sons Funeral Home, 773-774-4100.
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