Michael F. Metych

Michael F. Metych, 76, died peacefully at home on September 20, 2026, after a brief, intense, valiant battle with cancer.

He would not want those five months of illness to define anything, however. He would define his life by much more important things: the two women he loved most—the late Adrienne Rita Metych (nee Miller), his wife of 40 years, and his daughter, Michele Rita; the baseball games he took Michele to (both Cubs and Sox; he is entirely to blame for the fact that she loves both teams); the two 1964 Pontiacs he was patiently trying to turn into one working car; the broken-down cars and air conditioners he fixed for his friends and neighbors; the animals he rescued, who always seemed to know he was a friend; the butterflies he raised; the pounds of tomatoes he grew (zero of which he would eat); the many species of birds he fed; the countless bags of groceries he delivered to the elderly; and the decades he spent doing a job he enjoyed as a union operating engineer in the city he loved.

He cheerfully watched Michele’s menagerie for weeks at a time so she could travel as much and as far as she wanted. She’d bring him home coffee beans from exotic places, and he would expertly grind, combine, and brew them, bringing her a different cup of coffee every day at 11 A.M.

Mike is survived by his daughter and her husband, Joe Tychewicz, whom he loved as a son, plus a sister, Julie, and his twin, Thomas (late Jeanette), and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beautiful wife; his brother Max (late Patricia); and his brother Joe (Peggy). He is also survived by his cats (Spicy and Salty), his grand-cats (Snickerdoodle, S’more, and Pumpkin), and his grand-dogs (Bagel and Toast).

He always had hope, and he fought hard to stay here with Michele.

If you didn’t have the honor of meeting Mike, you just have to trust us when we say that the world was a better place with him in it.

Visitation will begin at G. Martinez Funeral Home at 5725 S. Pulaski Rd., in Chicago, IL, on September 24 at 9 A.M. The Reverend Donald J. Nevins will lead a prayer service at 12 P.M., followed immediately by a procession to Resurrection Cemetery for a veteran’s service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Border Tails Rescue to sponsor a kennel in Mike’s name.

https://www.bordertailsrescue.org/donate