Obituaries
Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries
Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area
Russell W. Paulson
September 13, 2024
Russell W. Paulson, 53, passed away surrounded by his family on September 13, 2024. Born on May 6, 1971, in Parsons, Kansas, Russell's journey took an adventurous turn when, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the delayed entry program for the U.S. Marine Corps on October 12, 1988. His commitment to serve his country was unwavering, as he...
Josephine K. Maggio Benassi
September 12, 2024
Josephine K. Maggio Benassi, 97, of Rockford, passed away on September 12, 2024. She was born on December 6, 1926, in Rockford, the daughter of Carlo and Lucy (Mirto) Adrignola. She graduated from West High School, class of 1945. She married her first husband, Salvatore Maggio in Rockford on May 7, 1949, and he preceded her in death on March...
Kenneth Wayne Cunningham
September 12, 2024
Kenneth “Ken” W. Cunningham, 80, of Rockford, passed away on September 12, 2024. He was born on February 27, 1944, in Sheffield, Alabama, the son of Paul and Fannie Belle (Duncan) Cunningham. Ken graduated from West High School, class of 1962. He married Barbara “Barb” J. Hammond on April 25, 1964, and was blessed with 60 years of marriage. Ken...
Jeannie Gilley
September 11, 2024
Virginia "Jeannie" Gilley, at the age 77, of Rockford, IL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, surrounded by loved ones, after a short illness.
Jeannie was born July 18, 1947, daughter of Joseph and Virginia Mannone of Rockford. She married Danny Gilley of Rockford on February 3, 1972, after meeting each other working as cosmetologists at W Bergner's Hair...
Frank C. Gibler
September 11, 2024
Loving Father, Grandfather (Bobo), Uncle and Friend
Frank Gibler passed away on September 11, 2024 at Alden Debes Nursing Facility. Born on December 14, 1936 in Mattoon, IL, the son of Frank C Sr and Marjorie (Dougherty) Gibler. Graduated West High school in 1954 and is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Married the love of his life, Rita...
Carole Sue Hurd
September 11, 2024
Carole Sue Hurd, 81, passed away September 11th. She was born June 12, 1943, to Earl and Ivy “Polly” (Perrett) Hurd. She graduated from West High School in 1961 and North Central College in 1965. She then went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Spanish from Illinois State University and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from Indiana...
Christopher Anthon
September 10, 2024
Chris Anthon of Rockford, Illinois, died on Sept. 10, after a brief battle with leukemia. Chris was a longtime research librarian, ceramics artist, and intellectual polymath who had an insatiable curiosity about the world that ranged effortlessly from art and literature to science and history. Chris never met a stranger and was as likely to engage a grocery store clerk...
Vana Rae Mitchell
September 8, 2024
Vana McVay Mitchell, age 89, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday September 8, 2024. Vana was born on October 9, 1934, in Corning, Arkansas the youngest child of Asie and Myrtle Porter. She lived there for 13 years before moving with her family to Rockford. Vana attended Rockford schools and received her GED at a...
Joseph P. Palmero
September 8, 2024
Joseph “Joe” Paul Palmero, 96, of Rockford, passed away on September 8, 2024. He was born on December 26, 1927, in Rockford, the son of Anthony and Mary (Arduino) Palmero. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Joe married Joan L. Bruneni on September 12, 1953, in Rockford, and she preceded him in death on August 29, 1979. He worked...
John Robert Lofton
September 2, 2024
John Robert Murphy, known to most as Bob, was born on March 2nd, 1932 to John and Elsie Murphy. As a toddler, Bob’s dad passed away and Elsie remarried Joe Lofton who adopted Bob. Bob, also known as Bockey to his loving family, passed away on September 2nd, 2024 in the beautiful home he designed and built for his wife...
Randall Lee Brand
September 2, 2024
Randall Lee Brand, known to family and friends as Randy, was born on February 6, 1960, in Harvey, Illinois. The son of Eileen (Vandenberg) Brand passed away peacefully on September 2, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois.
Randy was an extreme sports enthusiast who took immense joy in watching his daughters and grandsons play sports whether it be in-person or virtually; he was...
Charles P. Smith Jr. M.D. "Buddy"
September 2, 2024
Charles P. Smith Jr., MD, “Buddy” 88, of Rockford, IL passed away Monday, September 2, 2024, surrounded by his family. Born October 16, 1935, in Washington, D.C. to Charles P. Smith Sr., and Jane Arloa Smith. Wed to Roberta “Bobbi” Rush Smith February 2, 1967, in Toledo, OH, he and Bobbi raised their children on the east side of Rockford.
In...
Ronald L. Schaad
August 31, 2024
Ronald L. Schaad (1/23/1947 – 8/31/2024) grew up on his family’s farm near Bradford, IL with his parents, Gerald Schaad and Sibella (Jackson) Schaad and his older sister, Karen Andrew (her husband John). Ron attended elementary and high school in Bradford and was a member of the ‘famous’ 1964/65 football team. Ron was graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a...
Larry R. Gilbertson
August 29, 2024
Larry R. Gilbertson, 76, passed away Thursday, August 29, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on January 28, 1948, in Galena, the son of Robert and Pauline (Simmons) Gilbertson. Larry was a graduate from Harlem High School, class of 1966. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps serving as an aviation electrician working on the F4...
Josephine Mary Agostini
August 27, 2024
Josephine Mary Agostini, 96, of Rockford, IL, passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. She was born in Rockford, IL on November 1, 1927, the daughter of Desire and Mary (VanDen Driessche) DeBaere. Josephine married Mario Agostini on November 6, 1954, in Rockford, IL. She was a loving wife and mother of four children, spending most of her early family...
Marie V. Gagliano
August 27, 2024
Marie V. Gagliano, 94, Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Home. She was born October 24, 1929, in Rockford, the daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Tumminello) Gullotto. Marie married Joseph Gagliano, in Rockford, on April 24, 1948. He passed away in Rockford on October 1, 2002. She was an original employee of Union Hall...
Philip Stephen Cacciatore, Sr.
August 25, 2024
Philip Stephen Cacciatore, Sr., 68 years of age, passed away August 25, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois, surrounded by family at the home of loved ones.
Born September 25, 1955, in Rockford, Illinois to parents Stephen S. and Velma C. (Ottinger) Cacciatore, Phil graduated from Guilford High School, then graduated from Baylor University, Waco, Texas in 1976 earning a bachelor’s degree in...
Christopher A. Kaminsky
August 24, 2024
Christopher A. Kaminsky, 48, of Rockton, passed away suddenly at home on August 24, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and laughter. Affectionately known as Chris, was born on May 24, 1976, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He grew up in Palatine, where his infectious personality and expansive spirit began to take shape. Chris lived a life that was deeply...
Thomas P. Murphy
August 24, 2024
Thomas P. Murphy, 75, Rockford, went home to the Lord peacefully on Saturday, August 24, 2024, in Byron, surrounded by his family. He was born on December 23, 1948, the son of Sterling and Rosemary (Hart) Murphy. He was married to Margaret (Armato) Murphy on January 4, 1969, at St. Anthony Catholic Church. They were married for 51 years until...
Marcia E. Blassage
August 24, 2024
It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Marcia, a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She peacefully departed this world surrounded by her family on August 24th, 2024. Her battle with a terminal illness showed her courage and strength in facing life’s challenges.
Born to Arthur and Helen Hammar, June 20, 1946 in Chicago, IL. After...
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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.
