Obituaries
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area
David Walter Paczak
July 18, 2025
David Walter Paczak, 65, passed away on July 18, 2025.
Dave was born in Rockford, Illinois on December 4, 1959 to Walter and Ann Paczak. In 1982, he married the love of his life, Patricia, with whom he shared over four decades of laughter, partnership, and unwavering support.
Dave is survived by his wife Patricia; sister Deborah (Fred) Schiappa; daughters Jamie (Sam)...
Sarah F. Lewis
July 18, 2025
Sarah’s long life ended on July 18th, 2025. She was born on June 2, 1922, in Hardinsburg, Indiana to Clarence and Mary (Wiseman) McKinley. Sarah was the second oldest of our grandparents’ five children.
Prior to her junior year in high school, the family moved from Hardinsburg to Delphi, Indiana. As a high school student, Sarah played trombone in the Freddie...
Janis M. Swendrowski
July 17, 2025
Janis May Swendrowski, 86, passed away in Rockford, Illinois on July 17, 2025. She was born December 15, 1938, in Schofield, Wisconsin, daughter to Frank and Dorothy Hack. She went on to marry the love of her life, Donald (Don) Swendrowski, in South Milwaukee, WI on April 29, 1961 and quickly set out to build their life together over what...
Wayne Frank Gabel
July 16, 2025
Wayne Frank Gabel, 97, Rockford, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Wayne was born October 8, 1927, in Rockford, the son to Frank and Irene (Ganther) Gabel. He is a graduate of Harlem High School, class of 1945. He married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” (Cropp) Gabel, on September 11, 1948, at...
Sister Mary Pia Lawless
July 16, 2025
Sister Mary Pia Lawless, 89
Sister Mary Pia Lawless, 89, a Poor Clare cloistered nun, died Tuesday, July 16, 2025, at Corpus Christi Monastery, Rockford, Illinois, after a long illness. She was born October 25, 1935, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, daughter of John Joseph and Marie Ann (Dillon) Lawless.
Sister Pia became a professed member of the Franciscan Sisters of Frankfurt,...
Edward "Eddie" W. Tovo
July 15, 2025
Edward “Eddie” W. Tovo, 79, of Cherry Valley, passed away at home on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. He was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on June 14, 1946, to Henry and Della (Venzon-Dalpaos) Tovo. Eddie graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1964. He went on to earn a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University...
Connie K. Dorsey
July 13, 2025
Connie Kay (Burns) Dorsey, 85, of Rockford passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Born June 11, 1940, in Richland Center, Wis., she was the daughter of Paul and Lorena Fern (Gander) Burns.
Connie graduated from West High School in Rockford, Illinois, and she continued to live in the stateline area until her passing. She was a member of Aldersgate...
Virginia A. Spoto
July 12, 2025
Virginia (Hagney) Spoto, a woman of grace and deep abiding faith, passed away peacefully on July 12, surrounded by her loving family. Born on September 28, 1927, in Pekin, Illinois, to George and Viola (Buck) Hagney, Virginia graduated from Pekin High School and moved with her family to Rockford in 1946. She continued her education at Rockford College, Oxford University...
Janet A. Kloweit
July 11, 2025
With deep love and heavy hearts, we share that Janet Ann Schrom Kloweit gained her angel wings on July 11, 2025. To know Jan was to feel her warmth wrap around you like a hug — her kindness, generosity, and boundless love touched countless lives and will live on forever in the hearts of those lucky enough to call her...
Phillip F. Rezin
July 10, 2025
Phillip “Phil” Frank Rezin, 85, of Rockford, passed away on July 10, 2025. He was born on April 29, 1940, in Chicago, the son of George and Irma (Vyhnalek) Rezin. Phil graduated from Round Lake High School where he met and married the love of his life, Mary Irvin, on March 28, 1959, in Waukegan. He worked as a union...
Debra Lynn McKinney
July 10, 2025
Debra Lynn McKinney, 67, of Belvidere, passed away at home on Thursday, July 10, 2025. She was born in Rockford, IL on August 12, 1957, to Theodore and Mary (Doherty) Misuraca.
She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, who will be missed greatly.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home...
Marian G. Johnson
July 7, 2025
"Allow the light and the healing presence of Christ to shine brightly through your lives. In that way, all those who come in contact with you will discover the loving kindness of God" ~ St. Pope John Paul II
Marian G. (Zeppenfeld) Johnson 95 of Rockford, IL, passed away July 7, 2025.
Marian was born and raised in Ironwood, Michigan,...
Genetta A. Jordan
July 6, 2025
Genetta A. Jordan, 78, of Rockford, passed away on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at UW Health - Swedish American Hospital. She was born on April 17, 1947, in Beloit WI, the daughter of Larry and Gertrude (McGlaun) Berkley. She married her husband of 56 years, Elbert R. Jordan, on December 17, 1968, in Rockford IL.
Genetta was a godly woman, being...
Brian W. Meyer
July 5, 2025
Brian W. Meyer, born on October 20, 1947, in Oak Park, Illinois, son to Kenneth and Lorraine (Cleve) Meyer, passed away peacefully at home on July 5, 2025, in Cherry Valley, Illinois. He was a beloved figure in the world of purebred dogs, celebrated for his dedication and passion for dogs that spanned a lifetime. Growing up in a family...
Judith "Judy" Janusevic
July 2, 2025
Judith I. Janusevic, 93, died peacefully on July 2, 2025, at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, after a long illness. She was born on March 7, 1932, to Harold and Ellen (Engstrom) Anderson, in Merrill, WI. Judy’s grandparents were founding members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church there, and they dedicated a stained glass window in the Engstrom name. Along with her sisters,...
Shana L. Paris
July 1, 2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shana Leigh Paris (Flader) of Rockford, Illinois. She was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She passed away peacefully at home on July 1, 2025, with her family by her side. She was born April 18, 1973, in Rockford, Illinois.
Shana was an extraordinary and beautiful woman that...
Ralph H. Bergstrom
June 30, 2025
Ralph Helmer Bergstrom passed away peacefully on June 30, 2025, with his beloved wife, Carolyn (Dyball) by his side, after courageously battling cancer since last September. His passing marks the close of a life defined by integrity, devotion, and a commitment to family, faith, and community.
Born in Chicago and raised in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Ralph was shaped by humble beginnings...
Joan Theresa Geyer
June 30, 2025
Joan “Jo” Theresa Geyer, 65, passed away on June 30, 2025, at U.W. Madison Hospital. She was born on February 22, 1960, in Rockford, the daughter of Eugene E. and Theresa H. (Segalla) Roser. She graduated from Auburn High School, class of 1978 and worked as a CNA in home healthcare. She married Emmeran Geyer on July 1, 2010, in...
Mary J. Bowes
June 26, 2025
On Thursday June 26th, 2025, Mary Joanne Bowes lost her eleven-year battle with cancer. She was born on September 22, 1965, in Rockford Illinois to two loving parents, Earl and Catherine “Kay” (Conroy) Hickey. Mary grew up as an only child and was the center of her parents’ world.
Throughout her childhood, Mary enjoyed visiting her cousins on family farms. She...
Walter W. Kersting
June 24, 2025
Walter W. Kersting, 91 years of age, passed away on June 24, 2025, in his home. Walter was born on September 4, 1933, in Gelsenkirchen-Buer, Germany, to the late Heinrich and Elfriede Kersting. He was the youngest of their three children.
He was trained as a painter and went on to be a journeyman for over 40 years until his retirement....
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Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. offers a collection of obituaries for Rockford, IL & Winnebago County. With services throughout Illinois that are updated regularly. Find local Rockford, Illinois obituaries and join us in celebrating memories and honoring their lives and legacies.
