Bobby L. Lavely

Bobby Lee Lavely, 86, went home to the Lord peacefully and surrounded by family on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at OSF Saint Anthony Hospital in Rockford. He was born on July 28, 1939, in Vincennes, Indiana, to Orville Lee and Ruby Marie (McKinney) Lavely. Bob was a U.S. Navy Veteran with 20 years of career service, earning significant technical skills and completing ECC/Navy Reg./Communication Officer training. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer. He was also a recruit trainer in the Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. He was an established businessman in his civilian life and was canny with his finances. Building and construction was also his passion. He also worked as head of the maintenance department in a nursing home in the Chicago suburbs. This was where he met and married the love of his life, Cynthia “Joy” (Delacerna) Lavely, with whom he consistently answered “30 years” whenever somebody asked how long they had been married. They eventually moved and built a home in Rockford where they have been for more than 20 years. He was a devoted husband to a devoted wife. He was a Catholic convert who went through RCIA. He was very supportive of his wife’s Legion of Mary ministry, and they both are faithful parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Church in Rockford. Bob was a soft-spoken and kind man who enjoyed the peace and comfort of his home. He could often be found poring over paperwork in his office, and as a very handy man, fixing things, or working in the yard. He enjoyed music, singing, and dancing with Joy at home. He also had a great sense of humor. He was protective and loved his family more than anything.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia “Joy”; his children, Janet (Mike) Bicanic, Kim (Bill) Fuesting, Sean Lavely, and Bobbi Joylee Lavely; blessed with more children: Amadeo (Allison) Garcia III, George (Janine) Garcia, Michael Garcia, Paul (Aida) Garcia, and Cynthia (Eric) Schlegel; his grandchildren, Michael (Riley) Bicanic, David (Emily) Bicanic, Jon (Laura) Bicanic, Kimbra (Payton) Fuesting, Joseph (Amanda) Fuesting, Amadeo IV Garcia, Vivianne Garcia, Soren Garcia, and Ignatius Garcia; his great grandchildren; Michael, Teddy, Addison, Vivian, Calvin, Fletcher, Malcolm, Guinevere, Marjorie, and Bode; and his most favorite sister, Linda (John) Almeras, nephews Jon Almeras and Chris (Melanie) Almeras, grandnephews Trace (Nicole) Stafford, Tristan Almeras; grandniece Reagan Almeras, great grand nephews and great grandniece, Noah, Scotty, and Caroline Stafford. Preceding him in death were his parents Orville Lee and Ruby Marie, and seven uncles, Mack, Melvin, Don, Bill, Bob, John, and Jack McKinney, who were all like brothers to him.

A visitation for Bob will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Rd, Rockford, IL 61107. The funeral mass will follow the visitation at 11:00 a.m. After mass, burial will be at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family. To share memories and condolences online, please visit, www.fitzgeraldfh.com.