Danuta Jadwiga Pruchnicki, 90, of Arlington Heights, Illinois; loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at her home of 55 years on September 15, 2024 from complications caused by Alzheimer's disease.

Danuta was born on May 16, 1934 to Mieczyslaw and Jadwiga Solecki (nee Siegel) in Warsaw, Poland.  Her father died when she was a toddler.  Danuta was 5 years old when the Nazis invaded Poland, and her first memories as a child were of her and her mother delicately navigating life in Nazi-occupied Warsaw.

After graduating with a degree in industrial engineering from the Politechnika Warszawska in the mid-1950s, Danuta held a number of engineering positions in Warsaw.

In the early-1960s, like many Poles before her, Danuta emigrated to Chicago.  On her first night in the city, she attended a party hosted by her future husband, Henry Pruchnicki.  They were married in 1965 and went on to have a son, Raymond H. Pruchnicki.

Danuta was a stay at home mother until the time her son began high school, and then worked for several years as an engineer at Glenview, Illinois-based Zenith Electronics.   Danuta retired in the early 2000s and spent her time caring for and being with her grandchildren, socializing with both her Polish and "American" friends, and attending as many of her grandchildren's sporting and other events as humanly possible.

Danuta will be remembered for her joyous demeanor and kindhearted personality.  Though Danuta's life began with many hardships, her time on earth blossomed into a life of love. Even though Alzheimer's took over her mind, it never touched the warmth in her heart; Danuta always had hugs and love for all those around her.

Danuta was predeceased in death by her husband of 30+ years Henry and her second husband Andrew.  Danuta is survived by her son Raymond (Imily) of Evanston, IL and her grandchildren Michael of Washington, DC, Emily of Sammamish, WA, and Caroline of Evanston, IL.

Visitation will be held at the Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave. Niles, IL. on Monday September 23, 2024 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM. Funeral Mass 11:00 AM at the St. John Brebeuf Church , 8307 N. Harlem Ave., Niles, IL.  Entombment Maryhill Cemetery Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Alzheimer's Association. For more funeral info call 847-966-7302