WINIFRED B. RATAJCZAK (NEE GAITHER) HAMMOND, IN Winifred B. Ratajczak, age 86, of Hammond, IN passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2014 surrounded by her loving family. Preceded in death by her husband, John F. "Rusty" Ratajczak in 1998, and her brother, John T. "Jack" (Cassie) Gaither in 2011. Wini is survived by her six children: Randi (Jerry) Pelczar of Hobart, Diane (Mike) Fogarty of Griffith, John T. (Ginny) Ratajczak of Hammond, Michael Ratajczak of Hammond, Sharon (Ron) Lucich of Indianapolis, and Laurel (Mario) Biancardi of Griffith; 12 grandchildren: John Richard Pelczar, Danielle, Michelle and Rachelle Fogarty, Jenny (Jim) Tatge, Melanie Ratajczak, Katherine and Nicholas Lucich, Billy (Elizabeth) Aguilera, Kayla (Nick) Cottrell, Natalie Aguilera, and Kaitlyn Biancardi; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great grandson; sisters: Judy DeWitt and Judy Gay Logsdon, both of Phoenix, AZ; nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at White Funeral Home with Fr. Theodore Mens officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens in Schererville. Friends may meet with the family on Friday January 17, 2014 from 2:00- 8:00 p.m. at White Funeral Home located at 921 W. 45th Ave. in Griffith. Wini grew up in the Indiana Harbor section of East Chicago, IN, the daughter of John T. and Berniece S. (Zwinklis) Gaither, and a proud alumni of E.C. Washington class of 1945. Before and after raising her family, Wini worked for Dr. Franklin Premuda, who trained her to be his nurse. She had been a member of O.L.P.H. Church and School, Hammond F.O.P. Lodge 51 Women's Auxiliary, and Hammond Women's Volleyball League. Her love of music sustained her through life and she also enjoyed cooking, knitting, crocheting, fishing, gardening, and traveling, especially to Colorado and Wyoming, and to her cottage in Michigan. For information, please call White Funeral Home at (219) 924-4100. www.whitefuneral homeofgriffith.com