Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Eileen Catherine Hennen

Eileen Catherine Hennen

July 11, 2024

Eileen Catherine Hennen, beloved wife, mother, and granny, passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Eileen was born on April 7, 1942, in Chicago, IL to Martin and Julia (Nebel) Browne. She attended Ravenswood School of Nursing before marrying Ken Hennen in February of 1964. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage, raising four children and welcoming...

Paolina Rosolia

Paolina Rosolia

July 11, 2024

Paolina Rosolia, 93, of Marsala, Sicily was born on December 1, 1930, and died peacefully in Rockford, Illinois on July 11, 2024, at home surrounded by her three daughters, Christina, Enza and Ida. She married her beloved husband, Giacomo Rosolia, on June 16, 1961, in Marsala Sicily and they shared 49 wonderful years of marriage before his passing on July...

Dorothy L. Selmo

Dorothy L. Selmo

July 11, 2024

Dorothy L Selmo passed away in Rockford, Illinois on July 11, 2024. She was born on April 18, 1930 in Daggett, Michigan, daughter to Einor and Martha (Baumler) Wagberg. She married the love of her life, William Selmo, on May 27, 1950 in Michigan and celebrated 65 years of marriage before his passing in 2015. Dorothy was a member of...

Mary Lourdes McLaughlin

Mary Lourdes McLaughlin

July 9, 2024

Mary Lourdes (Jackson) McLaughlin was born March 7, 1935 in Utica, New York to William Francis and Mary Catherine (Horgan) Jackson. Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents, sibling, Sister Karen Anne Jackson C.S.C., husband, Robert B. McLaughlin, beloved in-laws Harry Schloetter, Ruth Anne Melvin (McLaughlin), Marshall Melvin and James McLaughlin. She is survived by her five children and twelve...

Carol A. Buckwalter

Carol A. Buckwalter

July 9, 2024

Carol Ann Buckwalter, 84, of Rockford, died surrounded by her loving family on July 9, 2024. Born on January 4, 1940, in Galesburg, IL to Eugene and Francis Ashbaugh; Carol was the second oldest of five children. On June 15, 1957, she married Lawrence W. “Larry” Buckwalter who remained the love of her life for 67 years.

Carol was a very...

Sally Jo Fehrle

Sally Jo Fehrle

July 8, 2024

Sally Jo Fehrle, 86, of Belvidere was welcomed into the Lord’s arms on Monday, July 8, 2024. She was born on March 20, 1938, to Alvin and Lucy Leola (Buss) Ploeger. She graduated from Stockton High School in 1956, and Illinois State University in 1960, with a degree in Special Education-Visual Impairments Program. She was the first teacher in Rockford...

Janet Roxanne Meyers

Janet Roxanne Meyers

July 7, 2024

Although she will be missed on Earth, Jan entered Heaven on July 7, 2024 following a prolonged fight with a leukemia-like blood disease. Until the very end of her life, Jan was one of the most selfless people around, earning her the nickname “Saint Jan'' amongst her family. Her loved ones suspect that even when she was in hospice care,...

Samuel M. Satterlee

Samuel M. Satterlee

July 6, 2024

Samuel M. Satterlee, also fondly known as Sam, left this world unexpectedly on July 6, 2024, in Freeport, Illinois. He was born on April 2, 2004, in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois.

Sam was a bright young man with a passion for the outdoors. He found solace in reflecting outside whether he was hiking, rafting, or on one of his many...

Robert 'Bob' Maculan

Robert 'Bob' Maculan

July 5, 2024

Robert “Bob” Maculan, 66 of Rockford, passed away Friday, July 5, 2024. Born on March 1st of 1958 in Rockford, IL to Robert Armand and Patricia (Dettman) Maculan. Bob attended St. Peter’s School and Boylan Catholic High School. He went on to graduate from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s in science and communications, with the interest of photojournalism; being...

Sue Fiduccia

Sue Fiduccia

July 3, 2024

Sue Fiduccia, 80, beloved lifelong Rockford resident, died peacefully surrounded by family members, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Born June 23, 1944, daughter of William M. and Barbara C. Schlenk Two. Graduated from St. James Elementary School and in 1962 graduated from Muldoon High School. Married Robert P. Fiduccia on June 6, 1964 in St. James Church, where she was...

Teresa Noelle Knabe

Teresa Noelle Knabe

July 2, 2024

Teresa Noelle Knabe passed away peacefully at home on July 2, 2024. She was born on January 5, 2006 in Rockford, IL to Brian and Sandra Knabe. She was a precious gift from the start – a beautiful blue-eyed girl with a head full of hair. She loved dresses and dancing, earning herself the nickname “Twinkle Toes” or “Twinkie.” A...

Daniel J. Woods

Daniel J. Woods

June 30, 2024

Daniel Joseph Woods, 65, of Rockford, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, June 30, 2024.

Dan was born in Blue Island, IL on March 23, 1959, the son of Francis and Martina (Drnach) Woods. He graduated from Bremen High School. Dan worked many dedicated years for Pella Windows and Doors of Rockford. He married Jillene “Jill” Schiess...

Robert B. McLaughlin

Robert B. McLaughlin

June 29, 2024

Robert “Bob” Blair McLaughlin was born June 16, 1934, in Chicago, IL to Earl and Mary (Raftree) McLaughlin. Bob was predeceased by his parents and siblings, James McLaughlin and Ruth Ann (Melvin), and brother-in-laws, Marshall Melvin and Harry Schloetter, and sister-in-law, Sister Karen Anne Jackson C.S.C. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lourdes (Jackson), five children and twelve grandchildren:...

John C. Ford

John C. Ford

June 29, 2024

John C. Ford, 88, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend passed away on June 29, 2024, in his hometown of Rockford. He was born on August 1, 1935, son to J. Clayton and Gertrude (Lane) Ford. John spent his over 40 year working career in the Rockford area as a real estate broker and retired from Dickerson Nieman...

Marjorie M. Conrad

Marjorie M. Conrad

June 28, 2024

Marjorie “Margie” M. Conrad 76, of Rockford, IL passed away on June 28, 2024. She was born March 28, 1948, in Rockton, IL the daughter to Wilbur and Dorothea (Scott) Conrad and was baptized on Easter April 10, 1955 at Salem Lutheran Church in Rockford, IL. Margie attended West Senior High School, graduating in 1967. Margie was a full-time bookkeeper...

Cynthia Ann Knauer

Cynthia Ann Knauer

June 26, 2024

Cindy Knauer was born December 31,1973 and she died after a courageous fight at OSF St. Anthony Hospital on June 26, 2024.

Cindy loved her family, her church, her job, she just really loved life so much. She had a beautiful, vivacious personality which everyone loved.

Cindy always wanted to move out on her own but felt it would be too expensive....

Gary W. Matus

Gary W. Matus

June 22, 2024

Gary W. Matus spent his life doing as he pleased at every opportunity. For Gary, that typically meant doing for others – from his career as a schoolteacher, coach, and counselor, to various handyman projects, to his favorite role as doting grandfather. A former longtime resident of Rockford, Illinois, he died unexpectedly June 22 in Goodyear, Arizona, at age 72.

“No...

Michael "Mike" A. Paun

Michael "Mike" A. Paun

June 21, 2024

Michael ‘Mike’ A. Paun, 63, of Caledonia passed away at home on Friday, June 21, 2024, from cardiac complications. He was born in Rockford, Illinois on August 10, 1960, to Frank and Virginia (Larson) Paun, the youngest of three boys. Mike graduated from Guilford High School in 1979 and attended the University of Arizona, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. He...

Patricia Calabrese

Patricia Calabrese

June 21, 2024

Patricia Calabrese nee Drew was born in Cornwall, England, to Orlando—a WWI veteran and businessman—and Nellie Drew. She and her younger brother Denis grew up in the same village as the later-famous British writer, Daphne de Maurier, and her family. 

As a child, Patricia endured the horrors of the Second World War, at times taking shelter while bombs rained on her...

Raymond Lukasik

Raymond Lukasik

June 19, 2024

Raymond “Ray” Lukasik, 92, of Rockford, Illinois, died suddenly on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. 

 Ray lived a long full life. Growing up in Canton, IL the youngest of 11 children, Ray knew hard work at a young age. His steadfast work habits began at the age of 11 when he was employed to work in a butcher shop (a position he...