Arlene F. Novak nee Dakuras of Downers Grove died on July 12, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband George T. Novak of 53 years. Devoted mother to Jennifer (Eric DeSimone), and Christopher (Caryn) Novak, Sr., beloved grandmother to Christian DeSimone, Jordan DeSimone, Catelyn Novak, Noah Novak, Jessica DeSimone, Nathan DeSimone, and Christopher James Novak, Jr., a fond sister to Carol (Jerry Lee), and Alex (Donnie) Dakuras, sister in law to Carol (Ricky Tucker), and James (Carol) Novak, loving aunt to countless nieces and nephews.
Arlene was born on July 14th, 1950 to Alex Dakuras and Harriet (Duhacek) the sixth of 12 children. She grew up mainly in the Chicago and surrounding suburban areas settling in Burbank. She attended Revis High School, where she graduated and begun her career as a secretary. She later met and married George, moved to Downers Grove and started a family. Arlene worked as a cashier for Eagle Foods for many years until deciding to be a stay at home mom. When she did go back to work she found work as a secretary again before retiring. Arlene loved to knit and had a wonderful knitting circle of friends that would meet 3 days a week. She had made countless sweaters, scarfs, dresses, shawls, and blankets for many family and friends. She loved a good romance novel, she also was an amazing baker, making tons of cookies, cakes, cup cakes, and greek pastries. She loved buying new magazines of desserts and making all of the recipes and having taste tests with her family to see which ones were the best. She also enjoyed playing games with family like Aggrivation, Pinocle, Gin, and Uno to name a few. She enjoyed classic musicals some of her favorites were The Sound of Music and Meet Me in St. Louis. If you watched them with her, you better be prepared to sing along! Arlene was most proud of her grandchildren who affectionately called her Yia Yia spending as much time with them as she could. She made it a priority to be at every sporting event, choir concert, dance recital, and piano recital. She even became a classroom and school volunteer in her grandchildren’s elementary school where countless children knew her as Yia Yia as well. Arlene was an amazing person and will be forever deeply missed by so many. Funeral services will be held on Friday July 18th from 4-7 with a small service from 7-8 pm at Cappetta’s West Suburban Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 4920 Main St. Downers Grove, IL 60515. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Arlene’s name to St. Jude. Funeral Info 630-852-8000 or westsuburbanfh.com