Melody "Mel" Ann Sulka, age 72, a resident of Addison, IL, passed away, peacefully at home with her husband David by her side on the morning of Monday, February 10, 2025. Melody was a devout Catholic, loving wife and mother, sister, and recently a grandmother. She was born March 3, 1952 in Chicago to Edward and Marie Kowalczyk and grew up in Franklin Park, Illinois.

Mel wore many hats during her lifetime. A college graduate from the University of Illinois (Bachelor's in Early Childhood Development, and Agricultural), she became a physical therapist, teacher to young children, auto repair technician, and overall entrepenuer. Melody met her spouse, David, when she was working as a physical therapist at Northwest Hospital in Chicago the summer of '72. She was tasked with helping him to walk again after a bad car accident and 48 days in the hospital. It was love at first sight. Melody and David were best friends who had the unique ability to live AND work side-by-side! The pair opened a specialty foreign-car repair shop (Illinois Imports of Woodale and Addison) in 1976, one year before they were wed, when they were just 23 years old. They ran it together for 21 years.

Melody loved antiques. She was a vendor, and also managed many antique malls over the years. Together, she and David collected for nearly 50 years, and eventually owned 2 antique shops of their own. She loved many other things in life, like sewing, fishing, bowling, and enjoyed hunting for vintage with her daughter, Lindsay. Mel enjoyed meeting new people, joking around, and having lively conversation. People who knew her best always enjoyed entering into a friendly debate or banter where she'd cut them up with a silver tongue. One good friend had dubbed her, "Give 'em Hell Mel" for her sharp wit and humor.

Outside of work, she spent most of her life caring for others more than herself. She never turned away anyone's request for help, and there was always room for one more at the dinner table. She took in both her mother-in-law and later her own father to care for them in their twighlite years. For the last 12 years, Melody was a permanent fixture at Frocks and Frills Vintage in Wheaton, where she could be found helping and supporting her daughter.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, David, her daughter, Lindsay (Jan), her grandson, Stefan, and her brother Terry Kowalczyk.   She was preceded in death by her parents Ed and Marie. Services will be held privately with close friends and family.

Cards, flowers, donations, etc., may be sent to:
Melody Sulka
203 S Hale St.
Wheaton, IL 60187