Fourth Generation Fruitcakes

Larry Faldyn, left, the owner of Lukas Bakery in downtown La Grange is continuing to try to sell his shop so he can enjoy retirement (and he may be close to a deal). But until he sells, he’s been getting some special help. Assisting at the counter last week was his granddaughter, Ella Smith, of La Grange, right. Together they made this year’s batch of popular fruitcakes the bakery sells every holiday season. They are shown above holding some of the cakes. Ella marks the fourth generation of the family to work at the bakery, which was started by Raymond and Lucille Lukas (who were Larry’s father-in-law and mother-in-law and Ella’s great grandparents) back in 1947.