Andy Piculas, the patriarch of Andy’s Family Restaurant has died.

He was ninety-two.

Patrons were stopping in to offer condolences.

I came for Louie’s liver–the best in McHenry County.

Seven years ago, when the restaurant was thirty-five years old, I wrote this story:

Andy’s Family Restaurant Turns 35

It’s been five years since Andy’s Family Restaurant turned 30.

Now the restaurant, started by Andy Angelos when he still lived in Chicago, is thirty-five years old.

Just as in 2011, Angie served cake to its Saturday customers.

Just as in 2011, Angie served cake to its Saturday customers.

Andy told me he got only four hours of sleep the first year when he was commuting from Chicago.

And he did the cooking himself, as he saved up enough money to buy a home out here.

I tried to get a photo of Angie’s brother Louie, but he was too busy in back.

Hard work by family members and their employees have bought Andy’s Family Restaurant to the thirty-five year mark.

Saturday mornings my Walk to Emmaus Reunion Group meets at the restaurant at 7:30.

The various waitresses rarely bother to give us menus, but they do remind us when its the pumpkin pancake time of year.

= = = = =

Here is his obituary:

Andrew “Andy” L. Piculas

June 20, 1930 ~ September 4, 2022 (age 92)

Andrew L. “Andy” Piculas, 92, of Crystal Lake, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on September 4, 2022.

Andy was born on June 20, 1930, in Nestani, Greece.  Andy and his wife Pat lived in Chicago and owned a restaurant there named Stephans Restaurant. 

On March 12, 1981, they purchased Lakeview Restaurant in Crystal Lake and later changed the name to Andy’s Restaurant.  Crystal Lake became their hometown.

Andy was extremely devoted to his Greek Orthodox religion and to the entire community of Crystal Lake, where he became a staple. 

He had a heart of gold; he took great care of his family and his restaurant family. 

Andy was an amazing husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and great grandfather.

He was a genuinely kind-hearted individual who treated everyone as if they were his own family. 

Andy will be greatly missed by all of whoever had the pleasure of having met him. 

Survivors include his children, Louis Piculas, Angie (Peter) Angelos and Bill Piculas; grandson, Angelo (Nicole) Angelos; great-granddaughter Violet; brother, Tom (Fotene) Koutas; sister-in-law, Niki Piculas; many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his caregiver, Mima Hristova.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Panagiota “Pat” (nee Katsigiannis), whom he married October 16, 1955 in Chicago; siblings, Prokopios “Peter” (Angeliki) Koutas, George Piculas, Dean (Elsie) Koutas, and Stamatina (Stavros “Steve”) Spanos.

A visitation for Andy will be held from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Monday, September 12, 2022, at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. 

A Trisagion service will take place at 8pm. 

The funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, September 13, beginning with prayers at 9:00 am at the funeral home, with mass at 10 a.m .at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 525 Church Road, Elgin, Il 60123. 

Burial will follow at Crystal Lake Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, or to Amita Alexian Brothers Hospice, 901 Martha St., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.