Desma Bozikis-Kowalczyk, born October 11, 1951 in Chicago, IL, passed away peacefully at Christian Hospital with family and friends by her side on August 7, 2023.
Beloved wife of the late Walter Kowalczyk. Dear daughter to the late Denne Bozikis & Florence Stewart (Hekkema). Preceded in death by her brothers James (surviving Judy) Bozikis Sr. & Ronald Bozikis. Survived by her sister Sandra Lee (Ronald) Northrop and many special nieces, nephews, stepchildren, grandchildren, cousins and countless friends.
Desma was a proud graduate of Cleveland High School in 1969. She then graduated from Harris Stowe College and Webster University. She was a St. Louis City elementary school teacher for 33 years. She loved teaching and her students. She was an inspiration to so many. Desma was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and worked as an usher at Busch Stadium for many years. She made many lifelong friends throughout her career.
Desma was instrumental in keeping her brother Ronald Bozikis’s memory alive after being killed in Vietnam in 1969.
Desma was proud of her Greek and Dutch heritage. She was the life of the party. She was full of personality who made friends everywhere she went. She was a proud member of the Red Hat Society and enjoyed her time and many adventures with her group. Desma was also no stranger to the Cleveland Alumni Association. She was up for any adventure, concert, trip or celebration. She was full of sass and wouldn’t be afraid to tell you how she felt. That didn’t matter, people loved her no matter what. She loved to share her many stories. She will be forever missed and remembered by all those that loved her.
Services: A visitation will be held at Kutis South County Chapel (5255 Lemay Ferry Rd) on Friday, August 18 from 10 a.m. until service at 12 p.m. Service by Father Michael of St. Nicholas. Interment JB National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Homers for Health or St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.
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This makes me sad! My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Desma was a hoot for sure. I loved listening to her stories, she always had me cracking up and she’s like me (tells it like it is) lol. I will always remember her and she was always smiling❤ RIP Des
I’m so sorry.
RJP, I was stationed with and a friend of her brother Ronald at Fort Bragg, NC before he went to Vietnam, God Bless the family.
You were truly one of a kind Desma! Will miss your smile and whit! Rest in peace sweet lady.❤️🙏❤️
Always a pleasant smile and friendly greeting when seeing her at the ballpark. Great teacher especially with students who were difficult. Friend of our whole family.
My thoughts and prayers to the family.
I met Desma at the ballpark. I enjoyed working with her. She will be missed.
I will forever miss you and your humor. You are eternally in my heart dear cousin.
Wait for me to start that touch football game with Ronnie. I love you Dez.
Rest in peace, you are free.
Desma will be missed very much. Loved her kind personality. My deceased mother was absolutely crazy about her as well. My sincere condolences to the family. 🙏 🙏🙏
Dear, dear Desma. You were one of a kind. So proud to know you
Our Woerner School Family will miss you immensely. We will always remember you as the” life of the party “at our school functions. Thank you for your beautiful presence in our educational lives. Rest in Peace my Friend
Carol, Emma, Paula, Alila
So sad to hear this. I worked with Des at Busch for quite a few years. We worked in the same area so I saw her every game. What an absolute sweet, beautiful soul she was. Always had a smile on her face and loved her job. She will dearly missed! My sincere condolences to her family.
Your laughter will live on
I love you Des 💜
RIP old friend. You will truly be missed.
Loved Desma, she didn’t know a stranger, so sweet and giving. Sorry we can’t be at her visitation and service. You will be missed Des. Love John and Karen
Love u Desma- we sure had some laughs at Life Care Center’s of Brighton- my friend ❤️ ♥️ 💕
Desma you will always be on our hearts. Remember all the softball games we played together and Tim was the batboy, nights spent at your house. Mostly all the birthdays we spent together cause our anniversary was the day before your birthday.
You’re at peace now and can fly like the angel you are.
Miss you my friend and enjoy all your friends that you are now with.
Keep a spot on the softball team for me.
Love you and will always be in our hearts
Desma dear friend you will be so missed. All the softball games which included Tim. The nights lisa spent with you but mostly all our times celebrating our special occasions
Rest in peace and fly like the angel you are.
Save me a spot on the team!
Love you always and you will always be in our hearts!!!
RIP my dear friend. You will alway be in my heart and thought.
Your at peace so fly like the angel you are
Love you
Sympathy to the family. So sorry to hear about Desma’s passing
My early school years include fond memories of Desma
Goodbye my dear best friend and buddy. I hope you find peace meeting with your family and loved ones who have preceded you on your heavenly journey. Your memory will be kept alive her on earth by those of us who love you.
A forever CHS Alumni and cheerleader. What an awesome personality.
Godspeed Desma
So sorry to hear of Desma’s passing. Prayers to her dear family. Remembering the times she came to my parents home for football celebrations & playing field hockey w/Desma @ CHS. With sympathy, Esther Roberts Gier
I met Desma at Williams Middle School. I was at the middle and she was at Little Williams the elementary school across the street. She would often come over during lunch to visit people she knew. That was how we met. There were four of us girls that started hanging out going to Happy Hour at various places, to the movies, eating out, taking short trips and getting into mischief. Desma was a hoot, always laughing, clowning, and being mischievous – from getting us to do a firedrill on busy Lindbergh to sneaking us in to see a Cardinal game to name a few. She was a people magnet. Anywhere we went she ran into someone she knew, including a truck stop on the way to Oakaville, IL, for one of our many outings, when her car broke down. Who would have thought. She knew I liked Greek food so one morning she came over,
and using her aunt’s recipe, she taught me to make baklava. Then for Christmas she bought me my own large baklava pan which I still have.
We transferred to Gateway Complex when it opened, she to the elementary, me to the middle, and another of the group to the Special Ed. school. The fourth of our group had transferred to a school district in St. Charles County. But we still met regularly on Fridays, for birthdays, Christmas, weddings, and other occasions.
Desma was one-of-a-kind. She will be missed by all who knew her.
I love you Desma! Best friends for 39 years- man, the fun we had!! The memories we made!! I thank God every day for putting you in my life! Who knew that the 6 months I taught with you at Williams Middle School would turn into an incredible 39+ years of being best friends! I will miss you terribly but I’m so glad you’re finally at peace! I will see you again, best buddy!!
I am so sorry we can’t make it to the visitation, Jesse has a Dr. appointment at 9 am the 18th. I knew Des through her sister Sandi and she was always so kind and sweet. I’m glad and proud I got to know Des, Ron and Sandi, sweet family. She will surely be missed by many and I pray she will find peace.
We will miss your energy, laughter and joy. God bless you dear Friend.
I had worked with Desma and Wallie at the old Bush stadium in the 80’s and 90’s they went to the new stadium had lost tough. About 2yrs ago we met back up was sorry to find out how sick she was. She was very kind and giving person. We used to laugh about the nickname Wallie gave me I was Mr Personally. She was a good friend will be missed dearly my She rest in peace. ❤️🐻
One of my best friends for over 50 years. Going to miss our laughs and jokes and you were like a sister. Love ya girl RIP