Service League award winner lends a helping had to all

Even though the Lombard Service League recently chose Joelyn Kott as their Woman of the Year, her life probably won't change much.

Sure, she got to wave from a horse-drawn carriage in the Lilac Parade and heard people shout to her, "You go, girl!" She also was invited to attend a couple of Service League events.

But Kott, who grew up in a big Italian-Irish family in south-suburban Worth, learned quite young she should always try to help other people -- and that's what she will continue to do.

"I think a lot of what I do I learned from my mom. She was always active," Kott said. "She told us it was important to help others ... all my life I've been involved in service."

Now that the celebrations are over, Kott and her family will be putting in plenty of community service hours.

Kott and her daughters Katelyn, Kelsey and Kendall Kott, ages 15, 13 and 11, all volunteer at a local food pantry.

She and her husband Dave Kundrot -- who nominated her for Woman of the Year honors -- will continue as this year's fundraising co-chairs for the Tri-Town YMCA.

Kundrot, a sergeant in the Lombard Police Department, is no stranger to local celebrity, either. He was last year's Lombard Jaycees' Man of the Year.

Kott also will take her turn as lector during July at her parish.

Kott's job keeps her visible in the community, too.

As communications and marketing coordinator for the village of Lombard, Kott will continue her role as coordinator of the weekly Cruise Nights.

The only thing that may change, she says, is adding a volunteer gig.

Without being asked, Kott offered to work at the Lombard Service League booth at the Taste of Lombard. And she is considering joining the organization.

"They're really genuinely nice people," Kott said.

In keeping with her lifelong love of service, Kott would like to be a role model for other women, as well as for people in general, to be involved in the community.

"I expect myself to try to carry that torch," she said.

She would like people to consider their community not only as a place, but also as a group of people working together.

Although Kott has only lived in the Lilac Village since 2000, she has worked there for 18 years.

She said she loves the fact that she lives and works in Lombard.

"There are so many great people, who genuinely want to do good," she said. "I don't think I'd be here this long if it wasn't good."