Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Marie Luise Davis

Marie Luise Davis

September 6, 2015

Marie Luise Davis, 80, Rockford, passed away Sunday, September 6, 2015, at SwedishAmerican Hospital. She was born in Nuremburg, Germany. She married John R. Davis. He predeceased her in 2002. Survived by her son, Jim Davis of Caledonia. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, September 17, 2015, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, with her nephew,...

Ret. Major Fred F Ohr

Ret. Major Fred F Ohr

September 6, 2015

A memorial service for Mr. Ohr is pending for a later date.

Marguerite Zissler

Marguerite Zissler

September 5, 2015

Marguerite Zissler, 89 Rockford- Marguerite Zissler, 89, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2015 at Swedish American Hospital. Born February 21, 1926 in Leatha, KY, the daughter of Ewell I. & Mamie B. (Coffey) Smith. Graduated from Fordsville High School, class of 1944. She married the love of her life Robert P. Zissler on November 5, 1945 in Henderson, KY. They...

Sam G Marsala

Sam G Marsala

September 3, 2015

Sam G. Marsala, 90 of Rockford died Thursday, September 3, 2015 at Presence Cor Maria Center surrounded by his family. Born March 10, 1925 in Rockford the son of George and Clara (Armato) Marsala. Sam served in the United States Air Force and was a WWII combat flyer from 1943 – 1945. Married his loving wife Marie Mazzola on January...

Joshua Ryan Polanco

Joshua Ryan Polanco

September 2, 2015

Joshua Ryan Polanco, 27 Rockford—Joshua Ryan Polanco, 27, of Rockford died on Wednesday September 2, 2015. Born October 27, 1987 to Fidel Polanco and Kristine VanHauen in Woodstock, IL. Joshua was a former member of IBEW Local 196, former employee of MJ Electric prior to working at John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. Most recently Joshua was co-owner of JZ’s...

Sven Evert Sixten Berggren

Sven Evert Sixten Berggren

September 2, 2015

Sven Evert Sixten “Morfar” Berggren passed away Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2015 at his home in Rockford. He was 84. Sven was born June 5, 1931 in Sweden to Willhelm and Ellen, the youngest of 14 children. After he joined the Merchant Marines in 1945, which saw him travel abroad, Sven settled in Rockford in 1950, sponsored by sister Elsa and...

George Washington  Dye

George Washington Dye

September 2, 2015

George Washington Dye, 84 Rockford - George Washington Dye, 84, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at his home with his loving family surrounded by him. Born December 8, 1930 in Hilly, Louisiana, the son of Hosea and Daisy (Pilgreen) Dye. He moved to Rockford at the age of 17. Served in the United States Navy. Worked as a buffer...

William "Bill" J.  Richards

William "Bill" J. Richards

September 1, 2015

William “Bill” J. Richards, 86, of Rockford, went home peacefully on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, with his wife Bonnie at his side. Bill was born in Dubuque, Iowa on August 15, 1929 to parents Val J. and Catherine Richards. He was raised in St. Vincent’s Orphanage, in Freeport, IL. Bill married the love of his life, Bonnie, on August 25,...

Peter Joseph Gallagher

Peter Joseph Gallagher

September 1, 2015

Peter Joseph Gallagher, 55, of Belvidere formerly of Oxford, MI passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. Born October 18, 1959 in Wilkes-Barre, PA the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Thiel) Gallagher. He graduated Wilkes University in 1981, and married the love of his life, Sue Belles, in 1982. He was a loyal employee of K-mart/Sears...

Shirley J. Debenedetto

Shirley J. Debenedetto

August 31, 2015

Shirley J. DeBenedetto, 76, of Rockford passed away Monday, August 31, 2015 in her home. Born May 1, 1939, in Rockford, the daughter of Raymond and Evelyn (Townsend) LeParte. Shirley married Louis DeBenedetto in Rockford in 1966. She was part owner of Sunray Fixture until 1980 and then became the Director of the Small Business Department at Rock Valley College...

Dean O. Mccormick

Dean O. Mccormick

August 31, 2015

Dean O. McCormick, 83, Rockford, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 31, 2015, comforted by the love of his family. Born in Rio, Wisconsin, on July 18, 1932, the son of Owen and Florence (Gorman) McCormick. He married Helen L. Smith on May 7, 1955, in Pardeeville, Wisconsin. Dean most recently was employed through District 205, Rockford board of education,...

Robert "Red"  "Emmett"  Mcginnis

Robert "Red" "Emmett" Mcginnis

August 30, 2015

Robert "Bob", "Red", "Emmett" Emmett McGinnis peacefully passed away on August 30, at St. Anthony Hospital after a long illness. He was born on December 10, 1938, in Rockford, IL of Lewis and Catherine. He was 76 years of age. He spent his childhood in Durand working on the family farm before moving to Rockford after the passing of his...

Phoebe M.  Shirley

Phoebe M. Shirley

August 30, 2015

Phoebe M. Shirley, 52, of Rockford, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, August 30, 2015. She was born in Peru, Indiana on August 24, 1963; to parents Bill and Lona (Gimlich) Burns. Phoebe was the youngest of 13 brothers and sisters. She married her loving husband, Glenn Shirley, on February 24, 2000; in Rockford, Illinois. Phoebe and Glenn both...

Phyllis F. Hern

Phyllis F. Hern

August 29, 2015

Phyllis F. Hern, 73, of Poplar Grove, formerly of Bensenville, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2015 in her home, surrounded by her loving family. Born August 31, 1941, in Ft. Riley, Kansas, the daughter of Willard and Elzada Childres. Phyllis married Russell Hern Jr. on September 27, 1958 in Junction City, Kansas. She worked for Sears, Yankee Doodle Hamburgers and...

Tonia D.  Glovier

Tonia D. Glovier

August 28, 2015

Tonia D. Glovier, 48, of Rockford, went home to her Lord and Savior, Friday, August 28, 2015. She was born in Rockford on July 25, 1967; to parents Bill and Barbara Glovier. Tonia was a graduate of East High School in 1985, and worked as Manager at Chuck E. Cheese for many years. Tonia will always be remembered as a...

Roger E. Dennis

Roger E. Dennis

August 28, 2015

Rockford—Roger Eugene Dennis, 69, passed away suddenly on Friday, August 28, 2015. Roger was born to O. Louise (Stevens) and Paul L. Dennis, Sr. on January 2, 1946, in Galesburg, Illinois. Roger served in the U.S. Army after graduating from Galesburg High School. Roger loved golf, home projects and traveling. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Lang, and her daughter, Jenni...

Barbara Astrom

Barbara Astrom

August 26, 2015

Barbara Astrom, 78, Rockford, passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at Alden Debes Health Care Center. She was born February 14, 1937, in Evergreen Park. Barbara worked as a social worker at Lutherbrook Home for Boys in Chicago for 34 years. Survived by her brothers, Karl (Barbara) Astrom of Plainfield and Gordon (Francie) Astrom of Reno, Nevada; her nieces and...

Mary A. Schuster

Mary A. Schuster

August 25, 2015

Mary A. Schuster, 73, Poplar Grove, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2015, at Neighbors Nursing Home in Byron. She was born December 6, 1941, the daughter of Charles and Lillian (Smith) Adler. She married Otto W. Schuster. She was a member of Faith Center in Rockford. Mary was an established pilot who scored a 100 on her license exam test....

Josephine C. Guarino

Josephine C. Guarino

August 25, 2015

Josephine C. (Gulatto), Guarino, 93, of Rockford passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday, August 25, 2015. She was born September 1, 1921 in Alton, IL, the daughter of Peter and Josephine (Palmero) Gulotta. She married Joseph Guarino on September 14, 1941 at St. Anthony’s Church in Rockford. She worked for Roma Bakery at North Towne Mall and Bergner’s...

Dolores A Graceffa

Dolores A Graceffa

August 24, 2015

Dolores A. Graceffa, 86, of Loves Park, passed away August 24th, 2015 after a courageous twenty year battle with cancer. Born May 8, 1929 in Rockford, the daughter of Lloyd and Lottie Eastman. Graduated from West High School class of 1947 and married her loving husband Ben Graceffa on June 4th 1949 at St. Peters Church. Dolores worked for Amerock...