Obituaries

Jun 25, 2023

Maria Pilar Tollinche, age 81, passed peacefully on June 25, 2023, surrounded by her five children and wonderful caregivers. Maria was pre-deceased by her loving husband of 37 years, Ret. Col. Charles R. Tollinche, MD. Maria was the beloved mother of Maria (Joe) Reed of Lewes, DE, Charles (Denise) Tollinche of Chicago, IL, Luis (Peter Meyer) Tollinche of Cleveland,...

Jun 22, 2023

Stanley "Stas" Edward Sopala, age 86, died peacefully on June 22, 2023. He is survived by his brother Walter Sopala; his sister-in-law Alice Sopala; 7 nieces and nephews who loved him dearly - Renee (Joseph) Duran, Laurence (Roxana), Joseph (Sara), Michelle, Eve (Toni Guitart), Daniel (Briana), and Marie (Brad) Nordeng. He is preceded in death by his parents Stanley...

Jun 12, 2023

Roy Paul Roth, age 71. Beloved husband and best friend of Barbara Bernhardt-Roth; brother-in-law of Jo Bernhardt (Ralph Topinka), Ann Bernhardt (Bizhan Sheikholeslami), Paul (Jodi) Bernhardt, and Jim (Dawn) Bernhardt; uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Roy was a lover of Golden Retrievers who raised 10 Goldens. Roy was an avid international traveler with Barb and a...

Jun 7, 2023

Charles A. Brizzolara, age 93. Husband of Audree (nee Doyle) Brizzolara; son of the late Ralph and Florence (nee Hurley) Brizzolara; brother of Nancy (the late William) Lorenz and the late Robert (Carol) Brizzolara; uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Charles was the former Vice-President and General Counsel of Walter E. Heller International Corporation, former Vice-President and...

Jun 3, 2023

Terry Niccoli-Barry, age 68. Beloved and wonderful wife of Stephan; dear and caring mother of Thomas (Elizabeth) and Michael (Becky); loving grandmother of Brendan; devoted and loved daughter of the late Anthony and June Niccoli; fond and loving sister of the late Sherry Vikeras. Member of The Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, The Pastel Painters of Chicago,...

May 23, 2023

Mary Nell Bohm, nee Crowe, an 84-year-old world traveler passed upon her final voyage after a valiant cancer fight on May 23, 2023.

Mary was born a bit too early in Evanston, IL to the dismay of St. Patrick and her Irish parents.

She was a graduate of UWM, BS Home Economics (MRS.)

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May 6, 2023

Stanley Paul Cmiel, age 85. Beloved husband of Bernadette; dear father of Michael (Mihye), John (Annie), and Deborah (Adrian) Price; loving grandfather of Matthew, Zachary, Charlie, Lily, Ethan, and Olivia; fond brother of Veronica (Bill) Puralewski.

Family and friends will meet on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Saint Giles Catholic Church, 1025 Columbian Avenue, Oak...

Apr 25, 2023

Ana Maria Ortiz, age 92, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2023, to be reunited with her husband, son Danny, parents, brother, sisters, and countless friends. She was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1953.

Ana Maria was self-taught and a woman of many talents. She was a master in arts...

Apr 23, 2023

David Dean Dickson was born in 1959 in Oak Park, Illinois. He is survived by his dear sisters Pamela Gardner (Glenn) and Donna Beers (David) and loving fraternal twin Brother Steven Dickson (Brenda). Also surviving are his niece Lauren Gardner Horton (Jarin), nephews Steven Dickson II (Mel), Kevin Dickson (Janet), Matthew Beers (Michele) and Michael Beers (Caitlin). He...

Apr 21, 2023

Conor Deighan Skelding, 31, died April 21, 2023, of a rare and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Lizzy Cady Skelding (née Trelstad), his parents, Karen Deighan and David Skelding, his brothers Cameron Skelding (Joanna Keen Skelding), Owen Skelding, Aidan Skelding (fiancée Caroline Hurley) and his beloved niece and Goddaughter, Luciana Skelding. Also surviving...

Apr 12, 2023

Mark Anthony Spognardi, noted Chicago labor attorney, died April 12, 2023, at Rush University Medical Center from complications related to heart disease. He was 63.

Spognardi was a founding partner of Spognardi Baiocchi LLP, created in January 2019, and founding partner of Pautsch, Spognardi & Baiocchi Legal Group, 2014-2019. Earlier affiliations included Arnstein & Lehr, partner, 2006-2014;...

Apr 1, 2023

Barbara A. Bagnuolo, nee Mika, was born in 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. She is survived by her husband Peter Michael Bagnuolo; dear mother of Suzanne (Steve) Lothary; loving grandmother of Olivia Lothary, Hannah Lothary, and Karen Lothary; devoted daughter of the late Helen (nee Kloc) and Stanley Felix Mika; fond sister of Joan Marie (William) Mika-Savas and Diane (the...

Mar 31, 2023

Lauretta A. Gembica. Dear mother of Barbara Gembica (Phil) Bue; loving grandmother of Kathryn Bue, Susie Bue (Chris) Pusateri, Michael Bue, and Timothy McCarthy; great-grandmother of Joey Pusateri.

Family and friends will meet on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at St. John Cantius Church, 825 North Carpenter Street, Chicago, Illinois 60642 for a 10:00 a.m. Visitation followed by...

Mar 20, 2023

Joan Pernecke passed away on March 20, 2023, at the age of 65, after a 6 month battle with esophageal cancer. She was born in Chicago, to the late Catherine E. (nee Hartnett) and Joseph H. Pernecke. Joan was the devoted, proud, loving mother of Beza. She was the sister of Mary Guthrie, Nancy Willis, and Michael Pernecke; and...

Mar 18, 2023

Martha-Marie Kleinhans

Obituary/ life review prepared by: Erica Reid Gerdes, Waxwing Journeys

Martha-Marie Kleinhans was born in 1963 to Robert George Kleinhans and Joyce Linda Richardson.  A year later, her brother David Jonathan was born, creating a life-long friendship and partner in crime for Martha-Marie. Growing up in Toronto and Chicago, Martha-Marie and...

Feb 28, 2023

Philip L. Kennedy, age 92, was born in Chicago, the son of Frank and Esther (nee Ryan) Kennedy. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rita A. Cashman; brother Rev. Frank P. Kennedy; sister Mary (Bernard) Kennedy Witry. He is survived by his sisters, Sister Ellen Kennedy, OP and Sister Esther Kennedy, OP. He was a grateful...

Feb 24, 2023

Jacqueline Marie Zurawski, age 78. Beloved wife of the late Deacon John Paul Zurawski; dear mother of Mary (David) Tarchala, John Anthony, and John Luke; loving grandmother of Dan Tarchala.

Visitation Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at Mary Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church, 920 Granville...

Feb 20, 2023

Francis "Frank" J. Phelan passed away peacefully at his home in Chicago on February 20, 2023, at the age of 89.

He was born in Aurora, Illinois, during the early years of the Great Depression. As a child, he lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while his father worked on designing and building the Burlington Zephyr at the Budd...

Feb 7, 2023

Michael Kearney Cavanaugh, age 87, of Chicago, IL passed away unexpectedly. He is preceded in death by his parents Luke and Frances Cavanaugh; brother Matthew Cavanaugh; brother-in-law Duane Vaske; and nephew Mark Cavanaugh. He is survived by his loving brothers and sisters, Richard and Dana Cavanaugh of Davenport, IA, Steve and Colleen Blaes of Chesterfield, MO, Cathleen Vaske of...

Jan 17, 2023

William T. Hart, a judge in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois for nearly 40 years, passed away peacefully at home on January 17, 2023. He was 93. A longtime resident of Aurora, Hart enjoyed his later years at The Clare in Chicago, where he lived with Catherine "Kay," his beloved wife of 68 years.

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