Joliet, IL Obituaries

Feb 8, 2017

Phyllis B. Benco (nee Plese), age 89, peacefully on Wednesday, February 8, 2017.

Phyllis is survived by her loving children, Sandy (John) Heck and Ken (Sherry) Benco; granddaughter, Julie L. Pehlke; great-grandchildren, Jack, Cole and Grace Pehlke; brother, John (Marilyn) Plese; sister-in-law, Eileen (the late Eugene) Plese; numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceded in death...

Feb 8, 2017

Eugene Klainsek “Gene”, age 90, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 with his loving family by his side.

Eugene is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Genevieve (nee Schmidberger); brother-in-law Louis (the late Karen) Schmidberger; sister-in- law Jackie Klainsek; cousin Karen Klainsek; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Preceded in death...

Feb 8, 2017

Judith J. Ferguson (nee Hoffmann), age 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 comforted by the love of her family.

Judith is survived by her three loving daughters, Dorann (Joseph Mcintosh) Hrusosky, Laura (Phillip) Braham, Jill (Steve Ryan) Ferguson; brother-in-law, Nick (the late Kay) Zigrossi; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; dear friends, Lucy Grzelak and...

Feb 7, 2017

Lillian Helen Surges (nee Olszta), age 83, peacefully at rest on Tuesday, February 7, 2017, comforted by her loving family.

Lillian is survived by her children, Therese Surges, Bobby (Donna) Surges, Michael (Kim) Surges, and Mary (Bob) Furst; grandchildren, Trevor (Lee) Surges, Nicholas Surges, Matthew Surges, Connor Surges and Ashley Surges; siblings, Edwin (Annie) Olszta, Dorothy Vangor...

Feb 5, 2017

Joseph A. Briski Sr. age 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 5, 2017 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice.

Joseph is survived by his loving and devoted children: Joseph Jr. (Lynn) Briski; the late Robert (Margaret) Briski; and Mary Lou (Richard) Stonitsch; his beloved grandchildren: Joseph III (Karen), Paul (Melissa), Robert (Lindsay), and Daniel Briski, Christine...

Feb 2, 2017

Harold "Bill" W. Barker, age 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 2, 2017 with his loving family by his side.

Harold is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Sheila (nee Foster); children, James (Monica) Barker and Catherine Barker; grandchildren, Matthew and Dylan Barker; sister-in-law, Lorraine (the late Grant) Barker; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins....

Feb 1, 2017

Kathryn "Katie" Orlovich, age 91, died early Wednesday morning from natural causes.

Mrs. Orlovich is survived by her two sons, Fred (Karen) Orlovich, of Raleigh, NC and Charles (Patricia) Orlovich, of Morris, IL; grandchildren, Jason, Adam (Ashley), and Daniel Orlovich, Chad (Ashley), Jeremy (Heidi), and Josh Orlovich; and three great-grandchildren, Sophia, Hailey and Payton.

Preceded...

Feb 1, 2017

Kathleen “Kay” A. Mihelich nee Mallaney, age 83, passed away on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.

Kathleen is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Leroy Mihelich; children, Karen (Ken) Henrickson, Michael (Jean) Mihelich, Sally (Rick) Sterioti and Tracy (Tony) Taranto.   Beloved grandchildren; Alyssa Sterioti, Nolan Henrickson, Anna Mihelich, Andrew Sterioti, Casey Henrickson, Erin Mihelich, Ava and...

Feb 1, 2017

Harold E. Bessler, age 73, at rest on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 with his loving family by his side.

Harold is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Margaret (nee Gergacz); children, Brian (Mary Kay) Bessler and Scottie (Melanie) Bessler; grandchildren, Michaela and Margaret Bessler and Annabelle and Abigail Bessler; one sister; four brothers; numerous nieces...

Jan 30, 2017

Joaquina Ramirez, 86, of Joliet, entered eternal life on Monday, January 30, 2017 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Durango, Mexico, she is survived by her loving children Trinidad, Erasmo, Hignio, and Maria; as well as her 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Joaquina’s life begin on Saturday, February 4, 2017 with...

Jan 30, 2017

Joan Elizabeth Lewandowski (nee Batson), age 93, of Joliet, IL, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2017 at her residence. Joan was born May 26, 1923, in Leicester, England, the daughter of John Thomas and Kate Jones Batson. She married Walter Lewandowski, a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in England, on October 21, 1944, at Holy Cross...

Jan 29, 2017

Valeria (Val) P. Wittenkeller, nee Brnca, 92 years, passed away at Joliet Area Community Hospice.

Survived by two daughters, Jeanette (late Michael) Lyons of Bloomington, Minnesota and Jodene (Mark) Hertko of Homer Glen; one son, Willard Wittenkeller Jr. of Lockport; one brother, Raymond (late Agnes) Brnca of Joliet; four grandchildren, Jessica (William) Batterman, Christopher Lyons, Kristin (Tyler)...

Jan 25, 2017

Genevieve M. Susner (nee Kostyra), age 95, entered into eternal life on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 with her loving family by her side.

Genevieve is survived by her loving son, Nicholas (Karen) Susner; cherished grandson, Michael Grant (Ginger) Susner; three cherished great-grandchildren, Maya, Angelina, and Connor Susner; dear sister-in-law, Patricia (the late Eugene) Kostyra; as well as...

Jan 24, 2017

Leanne M. Schmidt (nee Ficarella), age 48, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

Survived by her loving siblings, Marialena (Tony Mauro) Ficarella, Jannine (Dean) Johnson, Nicola (Paula) Ficarella, and Virginia (Gene) Hoffman; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceded in death by her husband, Richard; father, Leo (Marie) Ficarella; mother,...

Jan 24, 2017

William J. Potochnic, age 87, entered into eternal life on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 with his loving son and family by his side.

William is survived by his loving son, William Jr. (Lynne Remko); cherished granddaughter, Jessica Samoska; cherished great-grandson, Kohen; dear brothers, Richard, John, and Jim (the late La Vonne) Potochnic; dear sister, Diane (Ken) Derickson;...

Jan 21, 2017

Mary Frances Petro (nee Gleason), age 85, at rest on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

Loving mother of Janet (Robert) Hewlett, Nick (Leah) Petro, Meg (Paul) Studer, Alan (Sarah) Petro and Kristi (Scott) Niedzwiecki. Dearest grandmother “Nanny” of Kevin (Paul Wilson) Gornik, Mark (Jill) Gornik, Max Hewlett, Mallory (Phil Cantu) Hewlett, Tony Petro, Dan (Kerri Lyke) Petro, Nicholas...

Jan 21, 2017

Francesca Medved nee Berdon, 82, of Joliet, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2017, surrounded by her family at Joliet Area Community Hospice.

She was born in Slovenia in 1934 to the late Anton and Marija Berdon. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1956. A Joliet resident, she was formerly employed as a cook at D'Amico's Restaurant...

Jan 19, 2017

Kathleen J. Krakar (nee Taylor), age 65, entered into eternal life on Thursday, January 19, 2017 with her loving husband by her side.

Kathleen is survived by her loving husband, David Krakar; three stepdaughters; Shelly (Lovell) Hatfield of Joliet, IL; Tracy (Thomas Johnson) Krakar of Joliet, IL; and Bethany (Mathew) Bruss  of Wabash, IN; four loving grandchildren...

Jan 15, 2017

Jerome A. Harvey, age 93, entered into eternal life on Sunday, January 15, 2017.

Jerome is survived by his beloved wife of 73 years, Shirley (nee Halweg); loving sons, James (Pam), Thomas (Karen), Daniel (Mari Ann), Dennis (Kim), and Ronald Harvey; cherished grandchildren, Jerry, Tim, Rick, Mike, Liz (John) Fox, Nick (Amy), Geoff, Tom, Anthony, Amanda (Douglass)...

Jan 14, 2017

Diane L. Hartman (nee Carey) (Villegas), age 62, lost her life due to a battle with lupus on Saturday, January 14, 2017.

Diane was born on April 6, 1954. Attended SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Grade School, Joliet Central High School. Later, she went to JJC, St. Francis University, and Lewis University. Diane retired from Joliet Central...