JUNE ZAKRZEWSKI,
94, of North Little Rock, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2021. She was born Hazel June Houchens on June 8, 1927, in Riverton, Sangamon County, Illinois, to the late Harry H. Houchens and Hazel Lillian Williams Houchens.
(She disliked her first name and we apologize to her for including it, although we feel compelled to do so as a matter of historical fact.) June met her love, Fred Louis “Shots” Zakrzewski Sr. while Fred was in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII. They were married on June 7, 1947, and built a loving life together. She was a lifetime homemaker, raising six somewhat feral sons; June worked many years at The Lamp House and was skilled at repairing lamps and creating lamps from objects brought in by her customers for that purpose. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and was a graduate of Manual Training High School in Peoria, Illinois, She was the first in her family to graduate from High School and no, this was not a reform school. As a girl and young woman June loved to roller skate and was an accomplished skater. June loved her family fiercely. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and also loved spending time among the plants and flowers in her yard. She will always be remembered for her calm and pleasant demeanor. As matriarch of the family, she was a lady in every respect, always elegantly dressed no matter the day or how she felt. Her house was open to all, making everyone feel welcome. She loved to laugh and play games, especially Scrabble.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Fred Zakrzewski; her parents and her siblings: sisters, Mary Ellen Lamb and Wilma “Fritzi” Osburne, half-brothers, Wayne Arthur Walters, Arthur Houchens and Harry Houchens Jr. and half-sister, Fern Hammer. She is survived by her sons and daughtersin-law: J. Wayne (Maxine) Zakrzewski, of Aubrey, Texas, Fred L. Jr. (Lalia) Zakrzewski, of Marche, David T. (Carla) Zakrzewski, of Edgemont, Stephen R. (Barbara) Zakrzewski, of Vilonia, Gregory R. (Merry) Zakrzewski, of Little Rock, and Douglas E. (Mary Jo) Zakrzewski, of Marche; her twelve grandchildren: Luke Zakrzewski, Dana (Kevin) Tucker, Suzie (Scott) Yielding, Clayton (Lezlie) Zakrzewski, Utaw (Allie) Zakrzewski, Fred Louis (Tanya) Zakrzewski III, Jacob Zakrzewski, Jennifer (Dustin) Roberds, Mellisa (Dr. Andrew) Bryan, Brad Zakrzewski, Stephanie (Heather) Dedman and Max Zakrzewski; and sixteen great-grandchildren: Cordelia Tucker, Dominic Tucker, Michael Pruss, Cara Pruss, Kyle Thompson, Piper June Zakrzewski, Kasey Zakrzewski, Brianna Zakrzewski, Towler Zakrzewski, Avery Zakrzewski, Alfred Zakrzewski, Brock McCarthy, Wyatt Roberds, Haylee Zakrzewski, Taylor Bryan, and Tatum Bryan.
We also would like to extend a special thank you to all our friends and family that came by and visited with our mother and helped care for her during the past year including Ashton Scott and Nina Douell who sat with our mother during the days when one of her family members was not available to be with her as well as Betty Lybarger who helped keep her elegant look and Dena Hooper who helped keep her immaculate home.
Due to the resurging pandemic there will only be a private service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Little Rock Catholic High School, from which her husband and all her sons graduated.
Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.