Margaret Nancy Tatarek, 85, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in the comfort of her home. She was born May 19, 1940, in Hammond, IN the daughter of John and Anna (Zofchak) Tkach. She married Gerald D. Tatarek June 17, 1961 at St. Casimir Church in Hammond, IN, and he preceded her in death in 2011.
Also preceding Nancy in death were her parents; three siblings, Anna, Rosemary and John; and three in-laws, Paul, Edward and Mickey.
Affectionately known to her family as “Fancy Nancy” and “Grancy,” she is survived by three children, Kim (Mike) Eck, Jeff (Stacy) Tatarek and Greg Tatarek, all of Springfield; seven grandchildren, Michael (Lindsay) Eck, Daniel (Farah) Eck, Jonathan (Sarah) Eck, Caitlin Tatarek, Monica (Dominic), Grace (Stephen), and Cory Tatarek (fiancé Josh); seven great-grandchildren, Esmé, Keagan, Caleb, Cohen, Nathaniel, Rayna and Aliyah Eck; sister, Ruth Tkach of Springfield; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and three special granddogs, Henry, Teddy and Oreo.
Nancy was a proud graduate of George Rogers Clark High School, Class of 1958, and began her long career in the dental industry while still in high school. Nancy and Gerald moved to Springfield in 1969, where she was a homemaker, a volunteer at St. Patrick’s School, and a Scout leader for several years before entering the workforce again.
She worked as a business assistant and office coordinator for Dr. Ronald Gillenwaters, DDS and Dr. Thomas Riley, DMD for several years before taking a marketing position with Delta Dental Plan of Illinois in 1985. Nancy was well known in both the dental office and at Delta Dental for her pleasant nature, dedication to providing excellent customer service, and her consistent focus on always trying to improve the experiences of her clients. She retired from Delta Dental in 2002.
In her spare time, Nancy loved to travel, garden and attend all the sporting and musical events in which her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were participating, always one of their biggest fans!
She was also an active member of the Springfield Civic Garden Club and the Mermaid Chapter of the Red Hat Society, and she served as a rosary leader and member of the funeral luncheon committee at Christ the King Parish for several years.
In addition to her hobbies and community involvement, Nancy was well-known for her exceptional cooking, and loved to share her Slovak culture, passing on many special recipes and traditions to her family and friends. She also enjoyed creating her own new traditions, hosting lots of holiday-themed dinners and parties that included creative touches to make them very special and memorable.
Some accomplishments that Nancy was particularly proud of included winning the Halupki (Stuffed Cabbage) Contest at the 2013 PierogiFest in Whiting, IN, receiving the 2015 Armstrong-Gray Award from the Springfield Civic Garden Club, and writing and self-publishing a children’s book – A Happy Christmas in Birdland – to share her love of bird watching.
Visitation: 2:00 – 5:00 pm Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield. A vigil prayer service will be held at 2:00 pm.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 am, Monday, February 9, 2026, at Christ the King Church with Reverend Alex McCullough officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Martin de Porres Center or Springfield Civic Garden Club.
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