James "Jim" A. Churilla

James A. Churilla, age 80, of Hebron, IN, passed away at home on July 14, 2024, after a courageous fight with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Laura (née Spanopoulos); son, Phil (wife, Rita); daughter, Jennifer (fiancé, Jim); sons, James and Scott; grandson, Jakob Barlow; sisters: Dawn Harretos and Marveline Bornholt; brother in-law, Jim Spanopoulos; sister In-law, Mary Affeld; brother in-law, Paul Spanopoulos (wife, Denise); sister in-law, Stephie Cox (husband, David) and many loving nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Mildred; his brother, Louis Jr.; brother-in-law, Dino Harretos; sister in-law, Donna Spanopoulos; sister in-law, Helen Spanopoulos, brother in-law, Ralph Affeld; his beloved boyhood dogs, Tiny and Fritz; and, recently, by an old cat named Garfield, who comforted him over the last couple of years. Born in East Chicago, Jim attended Roosevelt High School for a few years before moving to Wheeler, where he transitioned from a Rough Rider to a Bearcat, graduating from Wheeler High School in 1961. He maintained lifelong friendships with kids from both schools and was fond of reminiscing and sharing stories about the good times he enjoyed. Surely, some of you reading this now were schoolmates who gave him memories to cherish in his final weeks. Because of these lifelong connections, Jim always seemed to "know a guy" or "know a gal" who could solve a local problem or make life better for someone in need. His ability to build relationships allowed him to excel throughout the Region and beyond as a salesman with Area Sheet Metal (an organization to whom his family is forever grateful: Kevin, Crystal, Dave, and the whole crew there took such good care of Jim as he battled cancer). Family and friends brought him joy--as did his Cubs and Bears, classic cars from the 1950s and '60s (especially the memory of his beloved '66 GTO), music from his younger days (from Buddy Holly and the Beatles, to Doo Wop and Motown), and revisiting treasured moments and places from a life lived in the area. A visitation is scheduled for family and friends for Sunday, July 21, 2024, from noon to 5 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN. Funeral service will be Monday, July 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Burns Funeral Home. Interment at Calumet Park Cemetery, 2305 W 73rd Avenue, Merrillville, IN. In lieu of flowers, friends of Jim can support the mission of the Katherine House in East Chicago through a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana: https://www.bgcgreaternwi.org/give/ The Katherine House sent kids to the long-gone Camp Okalona, where Jim, his brother Louie, and boys and girls of every color and creed shared hot summer days swimming together and enjoying "bug juice" (Kool-Aid). Donations given to the Boys and Girls Club in Jim's honor will help today's children create the type of memories he cherished as an adult. Enjoy: https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll76/search/searchterm/okalona www.burnsfuneral.com

James "Jim" A. Churilla

July 18, 1943 - July 14, 2024