Ann “Annie” Bochniak

Ann “Annie” Bochniak, 64, of Galena, IL, passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2025, with her family by her side. Her final day on earth was “glorious,” as she kept repeating as she spent the day creating final memories with her grandchildren in the warmth and sunshine. The day was full of love, laughter, and special moments her family is holding close. A funeral mass will be held at 11 AM on Friday, April 25, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Galena, where friends may call from 10 AM until the time of mass. There will also be a visitation from 4 to 8 PM on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel in Galena. Following the mass, cremation rites will take place. Annie was born on October 31, 1960, in Chicago, IL, to Reilly and Bertha (Gutierriz) Johnson. Her parents migrated from Cuba to provide their children with a better life and more opportunities. She grew up on the North Side of Chicago and attended Northeastern University in Chicago to pursue a career in teaching. While in college, she worked at a bank and met her future husband, Ed Bochniak. After several months of being “friends” and working together, they were married on June 16, 1984, and spent the next 40 years building a loving family together. Annie was passionate about teaching and dedicated to guiding her students toward a brighter future; education was her life’s work. She taught at various schools in Chicago until she and Ed moved to Galena in June 1999, where they established their roots and became integral members of the Galena community, which they cherished as their home. Her love for her students at River Ridge School was unparalleled, and her determination to positively impact their lives through education was truly a gift from God. Annie will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother (“Nani”), and friend. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Ed; two daughters, Christine (Kyle) Melaas and Emily (Brady Box) Bochniak; a son, Nathan (Nikka) Bochniak; four grandchildren, Clara and Henry Melaas, and Reagan and Riley Bochniak; and a brother, Reilly Johnson Jr. She was preceded in death by her parents and her in-laws, Joseph and Mary Bochniak. In tribute to Annie, a woman who devoted her career to education and to enriching the lives of every student who entered her classroom, her family has established the Ann Bochniak Scholarship. In lieu of flowers, donations to the scholarship are encouraged. The funds will be allocated to the River Ridge District #210 Special Education Department, where she taught and cherished every student and faculty member. Donations can be made at First Community Bank of Galena under the Ann Bochniak Scholarship. You may call the bank at 815-777-6300 to donate in your name, or you can stop by in person or mail your contribution to First Community Bank of Galena, attention Marce Doyle, 101 Exchange St., Galena, IL 61036. Thank you for your love, support, and generosity in helping continue Annie’s passion for education.