Marie Louise (Krajcovic) Filip
Marriages
Joseph Janecka - 1948
Later divorced 1951
Henry Filip - 1957
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6A - July 6, 2022
It is with sad hearts
that we share the passing
of Marie Louise Filip.
Marie died Saturday, June
11, 2022, at GrandView
Care Lodge in Grand
Junction, CO. She was 98
years old. She is survived by her sons, Jan Janecka and
Fred Filip; daughter, Marie [Filip] Bledsoe; son-inlaw, Scott Bledsoe; grandson, Skyler Bledsoe; many
nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, plus
extended family and friends. All of whom she loved.
What do you say about a life well lived where each
moment was important and every relationship was
precious?
Marie was born September 17, 1923, in Cook County
Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Her father was Frank
Krajcovic and her mother was Marie Kostal. She had
two brothers, Frank Krajcovic II and George Krajcovic;
plus sisters-in-laws, Millie and Gertrude, all of whom
are deceased.
Marie grew up in Chicago. She graduated from
Farragut High School in 1941. She then graduated from
the University of Chicago in 1945 with a bachelor’s
degree in social work from the School of Social Service
Administration.
She married Joseph Janecka in 1948 and had one
son, Jan Joseph Janecka. Marie and Joseph divorced in
1951 and she started working for Cook County Family
Services.
Marie and Henry Filip were married in 1957. Marie
and Jan joined Henry in Los Alamos, New Mexico
where Henry was working for the Los Alamos National
Laboratory and helped develop the atomic bomb. They
resided in Los Alamos for the next three decades.
Henry and Marie had three children together, Henry
Filip Jr (who died in 1997), Fred Filip, and Marie [Filip]
Bledsoe.
Marie Filip was active in Los Alamos, getting
involved in the Los Alamos Arts Council, Concert
Association, Arts and Crafts Association, Sinfonetta,
American Association of University Women (AAUW),
and the Pajarito Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of
America, to name a few. She studied stitchery technique
from the late Helenn Rumpel of Santa Fe. Marie was
a recognized gourmet cook and baker, studied music,
played the piano and flute, taught private flute lessons
and participated as a poll worker for local elections.
Marie and a health professional partner, Margaret
Brown, started the Los Alamos Family Council in
January 196. It was the beginning of mental health
services in Los Alamos. Marie started the Big BrothersBig Sisters of Los Alamos and Friend-Tutor Volunteer
Programs for at risk youth. Throughout Marie’s life, she
was committed to women’s issues.
Marie and Henry retired and moved to San Diego
County, living in Mira Mesa, CA from 1984 to 1988.
Marie again became very active in the local AAUW and
the San Diego Chapter of the American Needlepoint
Guild. She truly embraced “retirement” and just had
fun!
Their move to Palisade, CO in 1988 meant the fun
would continue. Marie became a forensic judge for
Colorado high school competitions in Lincoln Douglas
debates and speech. She joined the Grand Junction
chapter of the AAUW and helped spearhead the first
Reader’s Festival “A Salute to Women Authors,” in
partnership with the Mesa State College Foundation.
This festival ran biennially from 1995 through 2009
with Marie participating in this event through 2005.
She was also a very active member of the Desert West
Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America.
Henry died in January 2007 and Marie moved to the
South Lake Tahoe, CA area to be closer to her grandson,
Skyler. Marie returned to Grand Junction in 2013
saying she missed all her friends! She became active
again in the Magpie’s and AAUW’s Jane Quimby Book
Club, plus the Desert West Stitchery Guild. Marie was
loved by many and will be missed. Please join us for her
celebration of life on Saturday, July 16, at 10:30 a.m.
at the Callahan-Edfast Mortuary on Patterson Road in
Grand Junction, CO. Please also leave your memories
at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/grandjunction-co/marie-filip-10787922.
