Obituaries June 1, 2023
RAYMOND CARDENAS Raymond “Ray” Cardenas, 86, of Worth, passed away at home on May 23. He was an Army veteran. He was the beloved husband of the late Dora (née Aguilar) Cardenas and youngest son, David Cardenas. Cherished father of Albert (Jacqueline) Cardenas, Belinda (Robert) (née Cardenas) Gonzalez, Raymond “Steve” (Carin) Cardenas and the late…
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,…
Repaving project set for part of 44th Street in Lyons
By Steve Metsch Residents of 44th Street in Lyons, between Riverside and Lawndale avenues, can look forward to smoother driving on an improved roadway. The village board on May 16 unanimously approved a resolution regarding the awarding of a Cook County Community Development Block Grant for the work. M&J Asphalt Paving Company Inc., based in…
LTHS beating victim remains hospitalized as details emerge
By Steve Metsch The Lyons Township High School student who suffered “major head trauma” in a fight outside the north campus three weeks ago remains hospitalized, a source said last week. The youth – whose name, age, town and year in school have not been released – was attacked by at least three other youths…
Klimek promoted to police chief in Countryside
By Steve Metsch That didn’t take long. Just two weeks after he was named acting police chief, Paul Klimek was officially named police chief by a unanimous vote of the Countryside City Council on May 24. Klimek, 42, had been with the department since 2004 and replaces Joe Ford, who retired earlier this month after…
Despite attacks, Pekau says he will run again in 2025
By Jeff Vorva Usually, when mayors get up and give their yearly status reports of their communities, there is a lot of happy-happy-joy-joy talk. Even some of the negatives get glossed over with optimism for change. But when Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau held the 2023 version of the State of the Village address on…
Adopt-A-Pot program brightens up Palos Heights
By Kelly White The Palos Heights Beautification Committee works hard to do just what its name entails, keep the city beautiful. To provide a spark of greenery and a pop of color outside of local businesses, parks and municipal buildings, the committee hosted an Adopt-A-Pot flower planting day on May 20 in the parking lot…
Despite concerns from Orland Hills mayor, Orland Park on board with new Fernway School
By Jeff Vorva Village of Orland Park officials are giving thumbs-up to a plan to build a new school on the property of existing Fernway Park Elementary School. Fernway is located at 16600 S. 88th Avenue and is a part of the Kirby School District 140 group of schools, but is the only one in…
Chicago Ridge cancels RidgeFest over safety concerns
By Dermot Connolly RidgeFest has been canceled this year—and may never be the same again—mainly due to violent disturbances at recent large gatherings in Tinley Park and elsewhere. At the last regular Chicago Ridge Village Board meeting on May 16, trustees were moving full-speed ahead with preparations for RidgeFest 2023, approving contracts for the entertainment…
Worth police hit the roof for Special Olympics Illinois
By Kelly White Worth’s Police Department takes pride in having close ties with the local community. For the 11th year, the department was happy to once again take part in Cop on a Rooftop to benefit Special Olympics Illinois. Police officers mingled with residents on Friday morning at Dunkin Donuts, 6707 W. 111th St.,…
Oak Lawn is using technology to fight crime
By Joe Boyle While there has been a recent increase in crime, Oak Lawn officials want to assure residents that these incidents are being addressed. Village Manager Tom Phelan made it clear during an Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday morning that they are working in tandem with the police to solve the recent wave…
Worth Memorial Day event recalls past conflicts, wars
By Joe Boyle Worth Mayor Mary Werner welcomed sunny skies on Sunday morning. However, Werner said she could not take credit for the 70-degree temperatures before the Memorial Day Observance at Veterans Memorial Park at the corner of 111th Street and Harlem Avenue. “We have had plenty of times where we had coats on,” Werner…
