Christopher John Rybak - Online Memorial Website

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Christopher Rybak
Born in Missouri
63 years
158070
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     Dr. Christopher John “Chris” Rybak, 63, of Peoria, formerly of East St. Louis, passed away at 4:56 p.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his family.
     He was born on October 12, 1953, in St. Louis, a son of Peter and Helen (Poludniak) Rybak. They preceded him in death. He married Nancy J. Phillips on July 28, 1979 in Springfield. She survives.
     Chris had a deep love for his family, which included his wife and his siblings, Leonard (Constance) Rybak of Springfield, Gregory (Catherine) Rybak of Edwardsville, Richard (Brenda) Rybak of West Palins, MO, Nancy (Lowell) Leonard of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Thomas (Anne) Rybak of Richmond, VA. He had many friends and enjoyed spending time with them and he cared for his two dogs, Tally Ho and Charlie.
     He graduated from Assumption High School in East St. Louis and advanced his education, receiving his Doctorate in Educational Psychology/Counselor Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
     Since 1993, Chris served as a Professor in the Department of Leadership in Education, Nonprofits & Counseling at Bradley University, serving as the Chair of the Department from 2004 to 2015 and taught in the Counseling Graduate program. He enjoyed hosting Bradley guest speakers, teachers, professors and dignitaries. He received the Fulbright Award in 2002, 2009 and 2015, studying twice in India and once in Nepal. He felt very privileged to have met with the Dalai Lama.
     He was a member of the Universalist Unitarian Church in Peoria. He was concerned about all animals, even befriending a street dog in India and improving his life, before he returned to the United States. He felt a kinship with Native Americans and served on the council of Seven Circles Heritage Center in Edwards.
     He touched many lives with his wisdom, caring, love and quiet, steady leadership. He is known nationally and internationally for integrating holistic approaches of Western, Eastern and indigenous mental health treatment practices in counseling. He was also known for his work in counseling diverse populations, as well as his coauthored textbook.
     Chris’ love of travel and interests in other cultures took him to many countries around the world, including China, Spain, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan.
     He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
     A Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at Holy Family Parish in Peoria, with the Franciscan Friars celebrating the Mass. Following the Mass, a luncheon will be at 12:30 p.m. at The Universalist Unitarian Church in Peoria, with a visitation from 1 to 2 p.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Michael W. Brown officiating.
     Memorial contributions may be made in Chris’ name to the Siteman Cancer Center, the Dr. Christopher Rybak Scholarship Fund at the Bradley University Development Office or to the Bradley University Library Book Fund.
     Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Clary Funeral Home, 3004 West Lake Avenue, in Peoria.

Latest Condolences
Hendrick Polanco My deepest condelences December 4, 2016
My deepest condolences.  May these few words from the Holy Scriptures bring you comfort in your time of grief...
John 11:32-45
32 And so Mary, when she arrived where Jesus was and caught sight of him, fell at his feet, saying to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Jesus, therefore, when he saw her weeping and the Jews that came with her weeping, groaned in the spirit and became troubled; 34 and he said: “Where have YOU laid him?” They said to him: “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus gave way to tears. 36 Therefore the Jews began to say: “See, what affection he used to have for him!” 37 But some of them said: “Was not this [man] that opened the eyes of the blind man able to prevent this one from dying?”
38 Hence Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the memorial tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it.39 Jesus said: “TAKE the stone away.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: “Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days.”40 Jesus said to her: “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Therefore they took the stone away. Now Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 True, I knew that you always hear me; but on account of the crowd standing around I spoke, in order that they might believe that you sent me forth.” 43 And when he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: “Laz´a·rus, come on out!” 44The [man] that had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his countenance was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Loose him and let him go.”
45 Therefore many of the Jews that had come to Mary and that beheld what he did put faith in him;
Please go to the following link for more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/dead-live-again-tract/dead-live-again
C. Borurguet My deepest condolence December 3, 2016
My condolences, as feelings of pain and bitterness become unbearable. It is my desire to convey a comforting thought based on the Holy Scriptures
          
  John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."
 
 
This passage speaks of the resurrection of our loved ones. It is not God's plan to see us suffer and die, so He extends the following invitation to us: "Come near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8)
 
Please go to the following link to obtain more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage and again we are sorry for your loss.
 
 http://www.jw.org
C. Borurguet My deepest condolence December 3, 2016
My condolences, as feelings of pain and bitterness become unbearable. It is my desire to convey a comforting thought based on the Holy Scriptures
          
  John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."
 
 
This passage speaks of the resurrection of our loved ones. It is not God's plan to see us suffer and die, so He extends the following invitation to us: "Come near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8)
 
Please go to the following link to obtain more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage and again we are sorry for your loss.
 
 http://www.jw.org
C. Borurguet My deepest condolence December 3, 2016
My condolences, as feelings of pain and bitterness become unbearable. It is my desire to convey a comforting thought based on the Holy Scriptures
          
  John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out."
 
 
This passage speaks of the resurrection of our loved ones. It is not God's plan to see us suffer and die, so He extends the following invitation to us: "Come near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8)
 
Please go to the following link to obtain more information regarding the Hope expressed in this passage and again we are sorry for your loss.
 
 http://www.jw.org
Ronna Heinig Executive Director, Illinois Counseling Associatio December 1, 2016
To Chris' Family,

I know Chris from his service to the Illinois Counseling Association as President of our Group Work Division. We spoke often on the telephone and met in person as he served for several years on the association's governing council.  Chris always had a smile for everyone, and was a joy to work with. I spoke with him several weeks before his passing, and we comiserated together about how, during chemo, food tastes really really bad so it's difficult to eat the healthy diet you should. I recommended Jolly Rancher candies as they worked for me during that process. I will miss him very much and wish his family peace in the knowing of how much Chris was appreciated by those who served and worked with him.

Ronna Heinig