Joana Katy Albu

Joana Katy Albu, 92, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Newburgh, Indiana surrounded by her loving family. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Joana's life was a beautiful testament to hard work, love, and family.

Born in Romania on November 27, 1932, Joana dedicated over 20 years of her early life as a Surgical Nurse, serving in the operating room with dedication and skill. On January 4, 1956, she married the love of her life, Rada Albu. Together, they shared 65 wonderful years of marriage, building a life rooted in love, loyalty, and tireless work. In 1971, they made the courageous decision to immigrate to the United States, settling in Chicago where they owned and operated a restaurant. They relocated to New Mexico to continue their entrepreneurship by opening other businesses, and finally returning back to Illinois to be closer to their daughter Radoica and her family. She was a longtime parishioner of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Joliet, IL. Joana had a passion for life’s simple pleasures—gardening, canning fruits and vegetables, growing grapes for homemade wine, and helping smoke meats. She especially loved Christmas, and her Christmas Eve stuffed cabbage will be fondly remembered by all who gathered at her table. Hospitality came naturally to her; she loved to cook for family and friends, often hosting joyous parties filled with laughter, music, and love. To those who knew her, Joana was the embodiment of strength and kindness. She never took handouts and believed deeply in the value of hard work. She treated friends as family, always opening her heart and home to others. Joana and her husband were inseparable, and their bond was admired by all. Her greatest joy in life was being a grandmother and always recounted the immense joy of holding her eldest grandchild “Danny boy” for the first time, and how proud she was of her dear “Katica” to follow in her footsteps and become an OR Nurse. She helped raise her grandchildren, supporting and cheering them on in every phase of life into their young successful adulthood. Her legacy lives on in her grandchildren, a source of immense pride for their beloved Maica. After Rada’s passing in 2019, Joana relocated to Newburgh, IN to live with her daughter and family, a time filled with warmth, care, and gratitude—a true blessing for the entire family.

Joana was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rada Albu; her parents, Gheorghe and Leana (née Parearobiou) Vasile; her sister and brother-in-law, Maria and Gheorghe Ciacaru.

She is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Radoica and Dan Kilgore, and her cherished grandchildren: Daniel (Zoë Thatcher) of Houston, TX and Katerina (Nathan Schoenfeld) of Indianapolis, IN, and loving relatives back in Romania.

Family will receive relatives and friends for a visitation on Friday, May 16, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Rd, Joliet, IL with Pomen service beginning at 7:00 p.m.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 300 Stryker Avenue in Joliet.

Interment will follow in New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Cemetery.