Bunnie Dall'Osto

Henrietta “Bunnie” Dall’Osto, 91 years young, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, on September 8, 2023. Known as Bunnie throughout her adult years, she got her nickname from junior high friends. She was born on November 30, 1931 in Harlingen, Texas, the daughter of Sophia and Henry Ambrose.

Bunnie grew up in Rockford, Illinois and graduated from Rockford East High School in 1950. She married the love of her life, Ray Dall’Osto in December 1950. She raised her family in Rockford and lived there until she moved to Palm Harbor, Florida in 2022.

Throughout her life, Bunnie was ever the optimist. Her warm smile, her laughter, kindness and the care she always showed to her family, friends and all who knew her, made her a very special person. Bunnie’s children and grandchildren will always cherish and remember her as their loving Mom, Gramma, Grandma Tini and Gigi. Her colorful stories, good humor, her love of fishing, card-playing and an “occasional” cocktail made her a wonderful person to be with. Her positive energy was contagious.

In addition to raising her family, Bunnie worked in her later years for Zavius Jewelers. She did volunteer work at Saint Anne’s Place, OSF Saint Anthony Hospital and as an election poll worker. She also served as vice-president of the Catholic Foresters.

Bunnie enjoyed shopping, painting and other creative art projects, decorating, flowers and gardening. Bunnie’s love for her family and friends gave her great joy throughout her life. Her kindness and her creativity will surely be missed by those who knew her. Bunnie remarked that “I have been blessed to have such wonderful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I treasure them and all that has been given to me in my life.”

Bunnie asked that the poem “Afterglow” by Helen Lowrie Marshall, be shared in her remembrance:

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when

life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down

the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times and bright and

sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before

the sun;

Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

That is surely our Bunnie, always caring for the happiness of others. We will miss you Mom, will think of you often and always remember you and your love, your laughter and smiles.

Bunnie is survived by her children, Ray (Joli) Dall’Osto, Tom (Kathy) Dall’Osto, Lynn Kiehl, Mary Kay (Steve) Waldman; her grandchildren, Alisha Dall’Osto (Jack Shriner), Dave (Shana) Dall’Osto, Justin (Molly) Dall’Osto, Kristy (Jeff) Ellingson, Kari Dall’Osto, Tom Dall’Osto, Katie (Dom Kuczynski) Dall’Osto, Mike (Jenna) Kiehl, Mark (Susan) Kiehl, Kalyn Kiehl, Matt Kiehl, Joe (Laura) Waldman, Dan Waldman, Emily Waldman; and her eleven great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law Eunice Dall’Osto; brother-in-law Edwin Matus, cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bunnie is predeceased by her parents, husband, and her sisters Mary (Robert) Peterson and Kay (Dick) Carlin.

Relatives and friends are welcome to a visitation and funeral service, to be held on Friday, September 22, 2023, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Road, Rockford, Illinois 61107. Visitation will commence at 9:30 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, and for those who wish to remember Bunnie in a special way, gifts may be made in her memory to Holy Family Catholic Church, where she had been an active member. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.fitzgeraldfh.com