Obituaries
John David Halbesma
Aug 18, 2022
John D. Halbesma
Any Corvette enthusiast worth their salt knows that the journey IS the destination, and John Halbesma sure enjoyed the ride. John David Halbesma, age 75, cruised through life with a laugh that reverberated through the many hallways of the schools he attended and taught at, as well as in the hearts of those he cherished. A beloved...
Gerald R. "Jerry" Drauden
Aug 6, 2022
Gerald R. “Jerry” Drauden
Age 67 of Joliet, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 6, 2022, with his loving family by his side.
Born April 15, 1955 in Joliet, Jerry was a son of Donald and Margaret (Née Shroba) Drauden, Sr. He was a 1973 graduate of Joliet Central High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business...
James H. ONeill, Jr.
Aug 2, 2022
James H. ONeill, Jr.
Age 84 of Romeoville, IL, passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 with his family by his side.
Born October 9, 1937 in Chicago, IL, Jim was a son of James H. and Lillian (Née Raske) ONeill, Sr. He was a graduate of Mt. Carmel High School and married Carol Dutkanych on May 14, 1960 in St. Basil’s...
James W. "Jim" Popek
Jul 22, 2022
James W. “Jim” Popek
Age 73 of Joliet, IL passed away on Friday, July 22, 2022 at Silver Cross Hospital, with his wife by his side.
Born September 15, 1948 in Joliet, Jim was a son of William and Clara (Née Duda) Popek. He was a graduate of Joliet Township East High School (1966), and obtained his Bachelor’s degree from...
Mary L. Cipiti
Jul 10, 2022
Mary L. (Née Yadrnak) Cipiti, age 82, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 10, 2022.Born May 3, 1940 in Cleveland, Ohio, Mary was the daughter of Joseph and Magdeline (Née Kozak) Yadrnak.Mary was a longtime member of Holy Family Parish, Parma, Ohio, where she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society.Survivors include her sons, Michael and Mark (Michelle)...
Robert J. "Bob" Benedick
Jul 2, 2022
Robert J. “Bob” Benedick
Age 73 of Joliet, passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2022 with his family by his side.
Born April 26, 1949, Bob was a son of Theodore and Marcella (Née McCarney) Benedick.
He was a graduate of Joliet Catholic High, Class of 1967, and Lewis (College) University 1971. On June 13, 1974, Bob married his best...
Joan M. Reeves
Jun 29, 2022
Joan M. ReevesAge 86 of Joliet, IL, passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 with family friends by her side.Born November 4, 1935 in Joliet, Joan was the daughter of Clyde A. and Mildred (Née Trask) Reeves and a lifelong resident of Lockport until 2020 when she moved to Rock Run Senior Living community.Depending on her social circles, Joan was...
Michael R. "Mike" / "Mr. Z" Zigrossi
Jun 28, 2022
After a long, difficult battle with many health issues, lifelong Joliet resident Michael R. "Mike" Zigrossi passed away peacefully at Lightways Hospice on June 28, 2022, with his family by his side.Mike attended and graduated from Cunningham (1965), Hufford Jr. High (1967), Joliet Central High School (1971), Lewis (College) now University (1975), Governor’s State University (1992) and Lewis University (2007)...
Marilyn C. (Née Tomac) Strle
Jun 18, 2022
Marilyn C. (Née Tomac) Strle, age 73, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 18, 2022, in the comfort of her home.
Born December 28, 1948 in Joliet, Marilyn was the daughter of August A. and Catherine M. (Née Plese) Tomac. Marilyn resided in the Joliet/Crest Hill area her entire life.
Marilyn served many individuals in the local community through public...
Dolores M. "Smitty" Ambrozich
May 23, 2022
Dolores M “Smitty” Ambrozich
Age 94, passed away on May 23, 2022 at her home in Vista, California, where she lived with her daughter and grandson since 2020.
Born on March 12, 1928 in Joliet, Dolores was the daughter of Vincent and Clara (Née Dolosinski) Smith. She was raised in the Joliet area and married Joseph F. Ambrozich on June...
Sharon K. Zbacnik
May 14, 2022
Sharon Kay (Née Nolan) Zbacnik
Age 71 of Marseilles, IL, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022 following a brief illness.
Born December 18, 1950 in Sparta, IL, Sharon was a daughter of Jarvis and Ona (Née Alms) Nolan. She was a graduate of Herscher High School and married Michael J. Zbacnik on June 6, 1970 in St. Joseph Catholic...
Michael R. "Mike" Evans
Apr 21, 2022
Michael R. “Mike” Evans
Age 74 of Joliet, IL, passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital, with his loving family by his side.
Born September 10, 1947 in Harrisburg, IL, Mike was the son of Homer R. and Helen L. (Née Wilson) Evans. He grew up in the Joliet area and was a graduate...
Derek J. Walsh
Mar 21, 2022
Derek J. Walsh
Age 39 of Joliet, IL, passed away tragically on Monday, March 21, 2022.
Born July 13, 1982 in Joliet, IL,
Derek was a son of John J. and Tamara L. (Née Marlow) Walsh.
He was raised, educated and a lifelong Joliet area resident.
Derek was a true entrepreneur. Gifted in carpentry, he enjoyed building decks, house...
Nicholas M. "Nick" Sader
Feb 13, 2022
Nicholas M. “Nick” Sader
Age 26 of Aurora, IL, passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2022.
Born July 20, 1995 in Chicago, IL, Nick was a son of Kathie M. Schlitter and Stan Sader.
He was raised in the Crest Hill area and was a graduate of Lockport Township High School.
Nick was an apprentice carpenter and a huge...
Edward Matesevic
Jan 11, 2022
Edward S. “Eddie” Matesevic, age 96, of Joliet, passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at Lightways Hospice with his family by his side.
Born February 5, 1925 in Joliet, Eddie was one of twelve children born to John V. and Dora (Née Bratina) Matesevic. Eddie married Olga Furiel on May 29, 1948 at...
Carol Alexander
Jan 3, 2022
Carol Alexander was born Carmella Bellino on 3 June 1938 in Boston, Massachusetts to Giacomo (aka “James”) and Maria (aka, “Marie”) Bellino (née Carco), both the children of Sicilian immigrants—James, an orphan.
At the time, James was a silversmith and Marie a homemaker. When Carol was still very young, her parents built...
Corinne Shields
Dec 24, 2021
Corinne L. “Corky” Shields
Age 92 of Crest Hill, passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021, with family by her side.
Born on May 21, 1929 in Joliet, Corinne was a daughter of Amos L. and Loretta (Née Skoff) Joutras.
She was a lifelong...
Karen Bachner
Dec 14, 2021
Karen Lynn (Née Prokes) Bachner was born in mid-November 1946.
She was raised by parents Ed and Mary Ann Prokes in their Berwyn bungalow.
After graduation from Morton High School, she worked downtown for a law firm.
Motorola then brought her in as an executive secretary.
There she met a summer-student engineer; the next summer...
Angelina Gerl
Dec 11, 2021
Angelina M. “Angie” Gerl
Age 97 of Crest Hill, IL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Alden Estates of Shorewood, with her family by her side.
Born January 17, 1924 in Joliet, IL, Angie was a daughter of Anthony and Catherine (Née Puleo) Capitino.
...
David Smrekar
Dec 11, 2021
David A. “Dave” Smrekar
Age 77 of Crest Hill, IL, passed away on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Lightways Hospice Home, with his loving family by his side.
Born June 20, 1944 in Joliet, Dave was the son of Anton and Frances (Née Papesh) Smrekar. He graduated from Lockport Township...
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