Bess Novak Obituary

Bess Novak, 86 years old, passed away July 22, 2010. Bess was born June 6, 1924. A wife, a mother, a daughter. A friend, a thousand things to a thousand people. Bess passed away after a long illness. She is survived by her daughter Betty Lou. She is preceded in death by her dear husband, Frank, who passed away in 1968 and her parents, Charles and Betty Broz. During her life she worked in customer service and purchasing for a variety of companies. At home she delighted in her family and friends. An artistic woman who sewed designer level clothing and was known for her cooking and baking. She and her husband drove to California for their honeymoon in 1946. They continued traveling throughout their marriage - passing their love to their daughter. Bess loved Colorado and Switzerland. The higher the mountains the better. She was a 75 year member of the Western Fraternal Life Association (ZCBJ Lodge 330 - Pilgrims) - which kept her Czech heritage alive. She was a 43-year member of the Chicago Rocks and Mineral Society, which her family joined after becoming fascinated at a local rock show. She was also a board member of the Chicagoland Gems and Minerals Association. As an avid mineral collector, she enjoyed field trips to collect geodes, agates and fossils, which she displayed. She was especially fond of her amethyst, geode and gem turtles. She became an artist who created realistic three dimensional trees using wire, gemstones and crystals, which she displayed and sold at fairs and shows. Bess especially enjoyed demonstrating how she made the trees and was always willing to help others learn. She loved life and was happiest when friends - old and new - were around. She was voracious reader who the newspaper daily. She loved mysteries. In her garden she loved roses, delphiniums, clematis, and trying new types of tomatoes. The past few years she started growing orchids along with African violets. Bess always said that flowers were for the living, so in lieu of flowers, donations to the following would be appreciated: Berwyn Public Library, Large Print Collection, 2701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn, IL 60402; Ben Fox Memorial Fund (Autism), contact Linhart Funeral Home; National Czech & Slovak Museum, 30 16th Avenue Southwest, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 or plant a rose bush in your yard and think of Bess every time it blooms. Funeral arrangements handled by Linhart Funeral Home, (708) 749-2255.