Judith Cieslak, 97, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025, near her Evanston, Illinois, home. Born on November 22, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois, she lived a long and full life marked by intellectual curiosity, artistic passion, strong convictions, pride in her Polish heritage, and deep devotion to her family, friends, pets, and the many causes that she supported.

Judith pursued her love of the arts throughout her life. She studied at the University of Minnesota and The Juilliard School—institutions that shaped her lifelong engagement with visual art and classical music. Her education laid the foundation for a long, meaningful career teaching humanities at Olive Harvey College in Chicago. She was a gifted violinist who continued to develop her skills until an advanced age, and her art collection, representing several regions of the world, brought her great joy until the very end of her life.

Her personal life was equally full. Judith shared a loving partnership with her spouse, Jean Prebis, and remained a devoted daughter to her parents, Theodore and Harriet Cieslak. She is survived by her sister Joan Retzloff; nieces and nephews Judith Hargreaves, Catherine Lindsey, Philip Retzloff, and Stephen Retzloff; as well as numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. All were touched by her keen interest in their lives, her personal support, and her generosity.

Judith's "family" also included many animals. During their fifty years in rural Valparaiso, Indiana, she and Jean welcomed dozens of stray cats and dogs into their home as beloved pets. This interest in animal welfare eventually extended to wild animals, and she and Jean provided part of their land and gathered donations for the construction of a wildlife rehabilitation center.

Other lifelong passions included reading widely, traveling in Europe and Mexico, growing vegetables, hosting lively gatherings in her home, and cooking traditional Polish dishes that connected her to her heritage and beloved childhood.

All of Judith's activities and pursuits reflected the essence of who she was—a woman of intellect and heart.

Judith's legacy will live on in the lives she touched through both word and deed. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.

Memorial donations may be made to:

Humane Indiana

570 N 450 E

Valparaiso, IN 46383

https://www.humaneindiana.org/donate