
Obituaries May 25, 2023
MICHAEL J. BARAN Michael J. Baran, age 37, passed suddenly May 4. Cherished son of Krystyna (nee Wieczorek) and the late Ireneusz “Eric” Baran; beloved brother of Kathy Baran, Christopher Baran and the late Mark Baran; dearest nephew of Ciocia Gienia. Dear cousin and friend to many. Visitation was held May 15. Funeral was held…

Obituaries May 18, 2023
HELEN R. ACCETTURO Helen R. Accetturo (nee Budzak), 84, passed away May 8, at Symphony in Lincoln Park Nursing Home. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Irene and Jacob Budzak. She was the dearly beloved wife of the late Michael V. Accetturo. Cherished mother of Sister Mary Rose Accetturo, SFCC, Steven (Kim) Accetturo,…

Obituaries May 11, 2023
MELINDA “MELO” BARAJAS Melinda “Melo” Barajas, age 27, passed away unexpectedly April 20. Daughter of the late Pablo Barajas Jr. and Melinda L. Chavez; dear granddaughter to Phyllis (late Pablo Sr.) Barajas and Linda (late Richard) Skerrett; loving sister to Erik and Mariana, fond aunt, cousin, niece and a great friend to many. Visitation was…

A ‘kind and giving heart’
. Family, friends remember columnist Joan Hadac From staff reports Those who knew Joan (Heelan) Hadac never seemed surprised that she landed in jobs where she helped people. It was simply her nature, her kind and giving heart, they’d say. A lifelong Southwest Side resident, Mrs. Hadac died at home in hospice care on May…

Obituaries May 4, 2023
MSGR. MICHAEL J. ADAMS Msgr. Michael J. Adams, pastor emeritus of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish on 64th Street in Chicago, passed away April 23. He was 90 years old. Adams was born on April 9, 1933, in Chicago. He attended St. Catherine of Genoa School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of…

Obituaries April 27, 2023
LOTIA J. ANDRASEK Lotia J. Andrasek (nee Walczak), age 100. Beloved wife of the late Leonard Andrasek; loving mother of Timothy K. (Diane) Andrasek; dear grandmother of Kevin (Tina) and Danielle N. (Julie) Andrasek-Kickham; proud great grandmother “G.G.” of Mia, Macy, Charles and Simon; dear sister of the late Casey, the late Bernice, the late…

Obituaries April 20, 2023
ROY ABELDANO Roy Abeldano, age 66, passed away April 3. Roy is survived by his only daughter Sonia; her mother Gloria; 5 grandkids Joshua, Julian, Jaida, Jayla and Jayleen; his mother Maria Abeldano; his brothers and sister Roberto (Maria), Mariselda (Jesus) Hector and Elisabeth; nephews and nieces. His Tios Alfonso Pedro Rolando Ramiro and Tias…

Obituaries April 13, 2023
JEANNETTE T. BARCZAK Jeannette T. Barczak, age 70, of La Grange Park, passed away April 2. Loving mother of Elizabeth Schmidt and Bill (Jeanine) Schmidt; grandmother of Olivia Schmidt and Mila Schmidt; sister of Annette (Jim) Coughlin, Mia (Michael) Klingele and Tony Barczak; aunt of Jackie (Chris) Rowe, Ryan Coughlin, Shannon (Jason) Plummer, Tony (Jill)…

Obituaries April 6, 2023
WALTER J BRENDAL JR. Walter J. Brendal Jr., age 78, passed away peacefully March 17. Police Officer for the Chicago Police Department 009th District for 32 years and part time Officer for Summit Police Department for over 20 years. Son of the late Walter J. Brendal Sr and Lottie (nee Sudjak). Survived by his wife,…

Western Springs mayor Alice Gallagher dies
Alice Gallagher, 63, mayor of Western Springs since 2017, passed away unexpectedly on March 21. An attorney, her political career began when she was elected to the village board in 2013 and then was twice elected mayor. Prior to being a trustee, she served as president of the Field Park PTO, chair of the Western…

Obituaries March 30, 2023
ANGELA ANNOLINO-BONK Angela Annolino-Bonk, age 61, passed away February 10. Beloved wife of Raymond Bonk; cherished daughter of the late Bettie and the late John Annolino Jr.; dear sister of the late John Annolino III (Martha), Catherine Annolino, Patricia (Wayne) Smith, Joann Ferrell and Dawn (Phil) Munoz; auntie grandma of Jordan and Noah Fecarotta; dearest…

Obituaries March 23, 2023
VICTOR MANUEL AHUMADA RAMOS Victor Manuel Ahumada Ramos, 62, of Chicago’s Little Village community, passed away peacefully with his loving wife and children at his side March 2. Beloved husband of Maria Gonzalez Ahumada; much loved father of Melody Ahumada, Wendolyn Ahumada, Victor Ahumada and Landon Ahumada; proud grandfather of Meredith Cano Ahumada; dear brother…

Obituaries March 16, 2023
LUCILA ALVAREZ Lucila Alvarez, age 89, passed away February 15. Will be forever missed by family and friends. Visitation and Chapel Service were held at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S Archer Ave. Chicago. Jonathan F Siedlecki, Owner/Director. Final Resting Place Eden Memorial Park, Schiller Park To leave any tributes, please visit the funeral home website…

Obituaries March 9, 2023
ARMANDO “LEFTY” BONAGURO Armando “Lefty” Bonaguro, 94, late of Orland Park, passed away on March 2. Lefty was the husband for 70 years of Frances nee Adducci. Father of Dr. Ronald (Dr. Sheila) Bonaguro. Grandpa of Dr. Anne Marie, Patricia, James, Mary Therese and Michael Bonaguro. Brother of Armida (late Andrew) Galvan. Brother in-law of…

Obituaries March 3, 2023
HELENA BAFIA Helena Bafia (nee Wodziak), 87, of Chicago’s Archer Heights community, passed away February 21. Beloved wife of the late Bronislaw Bafia; loving mother of Maria (Jozef) Korkosz, Jozef (Anna) Bafia and Jane Ligas; dearest grandmother of Ryszard (Magdalena) Korkosz, Renata (Przemysław) Latos, Krzysztof (Malgorzata) Korkosz, Robert (Dominika) Korkosz, Mariusz (Katarzyna) Bafia and Malgorzata…

Ted Powers, who taught future journalists at MVCC, dies
By Bob Bong Ted Powers, whose passion for journalism inspired budding reporters at Moraine Valley Community College and turned The Glacier into one of the top student newspapers in the country, died February 19 at age 68 after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure. “Ted gave everything in his life 150%,” said his wife,…

Obituaries February 23, 2023
RUDOLPH “DINO” CORDOVA Rudolph “Dino” Cordova, 66, passed away January 25. Cherished son of the late Eva (nee Garcia) and the late Juventino Cordova; loving brother of Joel Cordova, Daniel (Iliana) Cordova, Betty (Joe) Munoz, Abigail (Daniel) Hernandez, Juventino Jr. (Maria de la Luz) Cordova, Monica (Elias) Rodriguez, Moises Cordova and the late Benjamin (Cheryl)…

EPCHS names Valedictorian, Co-Salutatorians
The 2023 valedictorian and co-salutatorians at Evergreen Park Community High School were recognized during the Illinois Principals Association South Cook region’s annual Student Recognition Breakfast on May 4 at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. The event recognizes the best and the brightest students in the south suburbs. EPCHS students recognized at the event…

Shepard wins MVCC culinary contest
The team of students from Shepard High School won first place at the Moraine Valley Community College Culinary Contest last month. The contest included nine teams from the high schools in the MVCC attendance area. Shepard students Jabari Harvey, who was part of the winning team for the second straight year, Emily Sheppard, and Isabelle…

Palos Park Doggie Dash is Saturday
Palos Park is going to the dogs on Saturday, May 20. Two- and four-legged friends are invited to the Palos Park Rec Center, 8901 W. 123rd St., for 1-mile fun run/walk (with or without your dog), and 5K run/walk with or without your dog. Free parking for the event is available next to the Rec Center…

Comcast launches service in Palos Park
Comcast announced that it has officially launched service in Palos Park. Village residents now have or soon will have access to Comcast’s full suite of Xfinity services, including gigabit+ internet speeds. Commercial and government entities will have access to the company’s full suite of Comcast Business services. Comcast said service would roll out in phases across town through the end of spring. Comcast will notify…

Ridge Central fifth-grade student council helps clean up Lucas Berg
The Chicago Ridge Ridge Central Fifth-Grade Student Council experienced nature up close and personal at the annual Chicago River Day 2023 cleanup at the Lucas Berg Nature Preserve in Worth on Saturday, May 13. The students, along with over 50 volunteers of residents, community groups and government officials participated in the cleanup of this approximate…

Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics
By Bob Bong Police departments across the south suburbs are gearing up for another high-flying fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Police will be hanging out at more than 325 Dunkin’ Donut coffee shops across Illinois starting at 5 a.m. Friday, May 19, for another edition of Cop on a Rooftop. They will be collecting donations…

Prospective foster parents receive advice, support
By Dermot Connolly Prospective foster parents can meet agency representatives and young adults who have gone through the system during a Foster Care Recruitment Picnic being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Thatcher Woods Pavilion in River Forest. Eight social service agencies that make up the Chicagoland Foster Care Recruitment…

A familiar face takes the reins in Indian Head Park
By Steve Metsch A new chapter in the history of Indian Head Park began at last week’s village board meeting. Amy Jo Wittenberg – who served two terms as a village trustee – was sworn in as the new mayor. Wittenberg, 59, who works in marketing for a printing company, lost re-election as a trustee…

When every day was Thanksgiving
. By Tim Hadac Editor, Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] Adapted from something I wrote in November 2015. Those who know me in the real world, as opposed to in newspapers or social media, know that I am an extremely private man. I typically do not talk about my personal…

Baste becomes first Arab American on Bridgeview Village Board
By Steve Metsch In the newly decorated board room at the Bridgeview Village Hall, in front a standing room only crowd of family and friends, Kalid Baste became part of history. He was sworn in as the first Arab American to serve as a village trustee in Bridgeview. Baste was given the oath of office…