Age 88 of Burnsville, Minnesota

Passed away peacefully on November 21, 2023. A devoted wife and mother, Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; son Roger; and daughter-in-law, Denise.

Elaine was born in Cumberland, Wisconsin on May 20, 1935, to Louis and Lucia Zappa. She grew up on the family farm and was the 11th of 12 children. Her first job was at the Comstock Creamery and Cheese Factory, and she was of course a lifelong Green Bay Packer fan. Shortly after high school she moved to St. Paul and took a job as a telephone operator. She soon met the love of her life, Raymond Kadrlik. Elaine and Ray were married on April 28, 1956, at the Church of St. Bernard in St. Paul. After living in Lonsdale and Minneapolis, they built their home in Burnsville. They were blessed with five children, all boys. Ray and Elaine were active members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where all of the boys attended Catholic school through 8th grade. Once the boys were all in school, Elaine started working in the school cafeteria at St. Johns. Elaine was an exceptional cook, she was Italian after all! Elaine’s home was always a welcoming place where many family and friends stopped by for a meal; there was always enough food to go around. Many summers were spent “at the lake”. It began by spending a week each summer at Pexa’s Resort on Prior Lake with Bo and Sylvia’s family. They would be joined by other family, including aunts, uncles, and cousins visiting for the day. There was always card playing and good food enjoyed. As the boys grew up, Ray and Elaine bought a cabin on Lake Washington near Mankato. Elaine was the true fisherman of the family, and could out fish all of her boys! She would often make them stay out longer than they wanted to, saying “Just one more fish.” When Elaine and Ray sold their cabin, the growing families spent lake time at the cabin that Roger and Denise built in Outing. Elaine loved being surrounded by family, and she made it a priority to attend the annual Zappa and Kadrlik picnics every year. Elaine was the biggest fan of each of her boys, and enjoyed cheering them on at all of their football, hockey, and baseball games. Elaine and Ray were proud members of the Dan Patch American Legion Post 643, the Ladies Auxiliary, and the Prior Lake VFW. Their grandchildren knew that when we went to visit them, if they were not at home, we would find them enjoying time with their friends at the Legion. Elaine’s grandchildren and great grandchildren were all very special to her, and she loved spending time with them. In the last few years Elaine enjoyed the time she spent with the friends she met at her apartment in Savage, and then at her apartment in Burnsville, which was a return to her old neighborhood, only two blocks away from their Burnsville home.

Elaine is also preceded in death by her brothers, sisters, and in-laws:  Agnes and Floyd Hale, Jim and Helen Zappa, Rose and Pat DaBruzzi, Mike and Lois Zappa, Minnie and Jim Edwards, Louis (Sonny) and Ruth Zappa, Fred and Leatta Zappa, Anna and Mike Chilton, Lucille (Doll) and Howard Mullins, Albert (Bud) and Phyllis Zappa, Frank Kadrlik, Mary and Ben Pexa, Adeline and Joe Mach, Helen and Pete Eischens, Anna and Sylvester Mahowald, Emil Kadrlik, Emma and John Kubek, Bo and Sylvia Kadrlik, Myles and Martha Kadrlik, Bob and Darlene Kadrlik, Al and Agnes Kadrlik and Dorothy Kadrlik.

Elaine is survived by her brother, Clarence (Mary Ann) Zappa; sons Anthony (Mary) Kadrlik, Scott (Pamela) Kadrlik, Gordon (Nancy) Kadrlik, and David (Stacey) Kadrlik; grandchildren Rich (Michelle) Kadrlik, Bob (Amanda) Kadrlik, Pat (Nicole) Kadrlik, Becky (Cory) Neumann, Angela (Brad) Whited, Andy (Lauren) Kadrlik, Beth (Dean) Baron, Matt (Jordanna) Kadrlik, Krista (Brad) Vanderveren, Jill (John) Kotz, Matthew Kadrlik, Katie Kadrlik, and Adam Kadrlik; great grandchildren Reed (Hailey), Makenna, Madison, Jesse and Ella Kadrlik, Nicholas, Kali and Kylie Vanderveren, and Landyn Kotz; along with many loving nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 4625 West 125th Street, Savage, Minnesota. Visitation starts at 9:00 AM at the church. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.