Sophie D. (Vavrecan) Hatczel

Sophie D. Hatczel (nee Vavrecan) 97 of Whiting, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at the Residences of Deer Creek, Schererville. She was the beloved wife of the late John M. Hatczel (ret., WFD) who passed away on January 1, 2011; loving mother of  Michael (Kathleen) Hatczel, Catherine Hatczel and late infant daughter, Christine Hatczel; cherished grandmother of William Hatczel and Jessica (Nicholas VanGucht) Hatczel; dearest sister of Theresa (late Kenneth) Flynn and the late Ann Toth, Margret Janek, Mary Domsich and Helen Vavrecan; dear “Auntie Sophie” to Richard Janik, Mary Ann Domsich, Donald Domsich, Patricia Landowski, , Susan Schotten, Daniel Flynn and the late Betty Bonchik, Terry O’Brien and Joseph Domsich, Jr.; many great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 9:30am at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting; a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting, with the Rev Mark R. Peres, C.PP.S., officiating; interment, Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville; visitation at the funeral home on Monday from 4:00 to 8:00pm; members of the parish will offer prayers at the funeral home on Monday at 4:30pm. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on-line at www.baranfh.com.

Sophie Hatczel was born on September 9, 1927 in Whiting, Indiana to Joseph and Christine (Janik) Vavrecan and was a lifelong resident. She attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and was a graduate of Whiting High School, Class of 1946. Sophie was a devoted member of the former Immaculate Conception Church, Whiting, where she had been a member of the Rosary Society and St. Ann Sodality. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting and the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Assoc., BR. 452. Devoted to her family, Sophie will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Immaculate Conception Grotto Fund, c/o St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1849 Lincoln Ave., Whiting, IN 46394, would be appreciated. 

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