Thomas E. Gasparich

Thomas Edward Gasparich,83

Passed away peacefully at Willow Falls Assisted Living Center on February 28, 2010. Tom was born on April 30, 1926 in Joliet to Matthew and Mary (Plese) Gasparich and was a lifelong resident. Tom attended St. Mary Nativity School, Joliet Catholic High School, and St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, IN. He served his country as a rear gunner in the Army Air Force during WWII. He married Mary Pekar on June 18, 1949. Tom was a Will County deputy sheriff before working at Commonwealth Edison Company for 35 years. Tom and his buddies from ComEd built the Coal City and CECO Recreation Clubs where his family spent every summer. Gasparich family reunions were best when held at these locations. He taught CCD at St Mary"s Nativity Church. Tom and his friends played cards at the East Side A.C. every Thursday night for 45 years. Family, music, reading, fishing and golf were Tom"s passions". He was an avid traveler seeing our whole country, Canada, the former Yugoslavia and Italy with his family. He was an avid reader of National Geographic Magazine for 50 years. He retired from ComEd on May 1, 1986. Tom, Ed Pekar and Charlie Larson met with the late John Pekar and went fishing every September in Minnesota for 20 years. Tom and Mary were Florida snowbirds for 19 years and celebrated the arrival of the new millennium at Disney World with their entire family. Tom touched the hearts of his family and friends by giving his time to assist people in fixing anything that broke down in their homes. Tom is survived by his wife, Mary (Pekar) Gasparich; brother, Joseph (Helen) Gasparich; children, Mary Ellen (John) Hendricks, LeAnn (Bill) Tatro, Thomas (Deborah) Gasparich, Christine (Dennis) Coil and Timothy (Kathryn) Gasparich. He was an incredibly loving grandfather to fourteen grandchildren: Anne (Christopher) Cliff, Matthew Raino, Lauren (Mark) Iwaszko, Adam (Brooke) Tatro, Allison Raino, Daniel Thomas Coil, Dana Gasparich, Eric Coil, Kasey Leah Gasparich, Luke Gasparich, Brent Gasparich, Shelly (Tom) Kutcher, Colette Hendricks and Christy Hendricks. He was blessed with 5 great-grand children: Peter Thomas Cliff, Anna Maria Iwaszko, Ellen Rose Cliff, Alexander John Kutcher and Nicole Gabriella Kutcher, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marie (Frank) Spesia. Memorial donations can be made in Tom"s memory to St. Mary Nativity Church Educational Endowment or Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 3033 W. Jefferson Suite 204 Joliet, IL 60435. Tom"s family wishes to thank everyone who called and visited, and also his caregivers for their kindness and excellent care.

A Celebration of Tom"s life will begin on Saturday, March 6 at 9:30 AM with prayers at the funeral home, then a procession to St. Mary Nativity Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with military honors at St. Mary Nativity Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 2 ""A�?? 8pm.