Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

Jay P. Larson

Jay P. Larson

March 27, 2024

Jay Peter Larson, age 49, of Rockford, IL, was called to heaven by our Lord on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. 



He was born in Rockford, IL on December 18, 1974, a gift from God to loving parents, Peter and Marianne (Poli) Larson. He graduated from Boylan Catholic High School and went on to complete his Undergraduate Degree from Benedictine University. 

A homegrown Rockfordian through and through, he found his calling...

Vonnie L. Scarpetta

Vonnie L. Scarpetta

March 27, 2024

Vonnie L. Scarpetta, 88, of Rockford, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many, passed away on March 27, 2024, at OSF Hospital in Rockford, Illinois. Vonnie was born on December 29, 1935, in Phil Campbell, Alabama. The daughter of Harley and Lillie (Graves) McMurry. She married Angelo Scarpetta in 1960. They shared 49 years of marriage before...

Ronald A. Oldejans

Ronald A. Oldejans

March 27, 2024

Ron Oldejans passed away on March 27. He was born in Belvidere to Roelof and Ruby Oldejans on August 25, 1942. Ron attended Logan Elementary School, Belvidere High School, and graduated with an Associate Degree from Rockford Business School. He served in the National Guard Army for six years. He was married to Eileen Castronovo for fifty-seven years. They had...

Benjamin "Ben" A. Pflederer

Benjamin "Ben" A. Pflederer

March 25, 2024

Benjamin “Ben” A. Pflederer, 79, of Rockford, Illinois passed away on Monday, March 25, 2024. Born on March 5th of 1945 to parents Aquilla and Helen (Schmid) Pflederer in the small town of Tremont, Illinois. 

Ben was a member of Church of the Nazarene in Rockford, IL. He worked most of his life as an electrical engineer with many companies, most...

Jessica L. Bennett

Jessica L. Bennett

March 24, 2024

A Memorial Service will be on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road Rockford, Illinois 61108. A visitation will be prior to the service starting at 10:30 a.m. 

Dianne Lynette Hertzner

Dianne Lynette Hertzner

March 23, 2024

Dianne Lynnette Hertzner was born June 23, 1971 and fell asleep in death surrounded by family on March 23, 2024 after a long brave battle with a chronic kidney disease.Dianne was adopted as an infant and was immediately blessed with loving parents, Francy and Bob Johnston, later connecting with her biological parents, Cecilia and Bob Mchoes. Through her childhood this...

Vincent V. Verace

Vincent V. Verace

March 23, 2024

Vincent V. Verace, 92, Rockford, passed away on March 23, 2024, in Belvidere. He was born on February 22, 1932, in Rockford, the son of Vincenzo and Josephine (Gulotta) Verace. Vince graduated from West High School in 1950 where he was captain of the swim team and made many lifelong friends. 

He met his wife Gloria M. Ruefer, 1951 Muldoon graduate,...

Christine D. Moorman

Christine D. Moorman

March 22, 2024

Christine Diane Moorman, 75, of Rockford, passed away surrounded by her family on March 22, 2024, at Swedish American Hospital. She was born on September 20, 1948, in Sycamore, Illinois, the daughter of Roy and Wauneta (Littlejohn) Schwebke. She obtained her associates in social services and worked as a cashier at Schnucks Grocery Store. Chris enjoyed her time spent at...

Tatiana Valeryevna Dmitrieva

Tatiana Valeryevna Dmitrieva

March 21, 2024

Tatiana Valeryevna Dmitrieva, a caring mother, faithful wife, wise sister, considerate daughter, kind friend, and steadfast woman of God. In Cheboksary, Russia, Tatiana entered the world as the cherished daughter of Valeri and Irina. She embarked on a remarkable academic journey, earning her Master of Science in Statistics from Moscow State University before achieving her PhD in Statistics from Northern Illinois...

Lorraine Maffei

Lorraine Maffei

March 19, 2024

Lorraine (Curia) Maffei, 94, of Rockford, died at 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at her home and in the presence of family.  Lorraine was born to Nicolas and Helene Curia on January 22, 1930 in Brooklyn, NY, older sister to Claire and Helene. As a teenager, she started working in the department store on 5th Avenue in Manhatten, where she was...

Rev. Donald V. Long

Rev. Donald V. Long

March 19, 2024

Reverend Donald Vaughn Long, 86, of Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, with his family by his side. He was born on September 7, 1937, in Denver, CO, the son of Vaughn and Frances (Cochran) Long. He married his devoted wife, Janis (Jones) Long on June 11, 1960, in Caryville, TN.Don was a United Methodist minister who dedicated...

Susan Sabrowski

Susan Sabrowski

March 19, 2024

Susan Sabrowski, 85, of Rockford, Illinois passed away at River Bluff Nursing Home on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, with her three daughters at her side. She was born and raised in Jamestown, New York, the daughter of Linsly and Dorothy (Rugg) Brown. She graduated from Jamestown High School in 1956 and went on to attend one year at Wells College...

Laura Ann Costello

Laura Ann Costello

March 18, 2024

Laura Costello, 94, passed away on March 18, 2024 in Rockford, Illinois.  She was born on July 22, 1929 on the south side of Chicago to Michael and Gemma DeFrank, first generation Italian immigrants, who settled in Ottawa.  Her father started a small grocery store where Laura (“Dolly” to her family) worked part time after school, thus beginning her long...

Rita Carol Huwe

Rita Carol Huwe

March 17, 2024

Rita Carol (Carey) Huwe died on March 17, 2024, at Wesley Willows Memory Care, in Rockford, Illinois. Rita was born on May 13, 1938, in Covington, Ohio, to parents George and Eva (Shimfessel) Carey.

Rita graduated from Troy High School in 1956. She then attended Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing, completing her studies in 1959. She married Orlyn Huwe in...

Margaret Ann Epperson

Margaret Ann Epperson

March 17, 2024

Margaret Ann Epperson, 84, of Rockford, passed away at home Sunday, March 17, 2024.   She was born in Alconbury, England on December 5, 1939, the daughter of Fred Tarft and Margaret Crick. She attended school in England and later met her husband, David L. Epperson while he was stationed there in the United States Air Force. They were married on May...

Karen L. Reed

Karen L. Reed

March 17, 2024

Karen L. Reed-Sommers, 69, passed away on March 17, 2024, in Rockford. Born on March 9, 1955, in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of Glenn and Emma Jean Sommers-Ross. She held a certification in nursing, spending her career as a health care scheduler. Later, she worked in home health care. She had a passion for helping others. She married her loving...

Douglas Scott Davis

Douglas Scott Davis

March 14, 2024

We are heartbroken to announce the death our father, Douglas Scott Davis. He passed away peacefully at the age of 62, surrounded by his family and friends.Doug was born on February 1, 1962, in Pana, Illinois, the son of Earl and Wanda (Vermillion) Davis. Doug enjoyed camping, bowling, spending time with family and friends, working on things in the garage and...

Angela Gianquinto Franks

Angela Gianquinto Franks

March 14, 2024

Angela “Angie” Gianquinto Franks, 83, went to be with the Lord on March 14, 2024, in her hometown of Rockford. Born on March 3, 1941, she was the oldest of three daughters to Philip and Ann (Bordonaro) Gianquinto. During her professional years, she was a claims processor for Aetna Insurance, until she retired to fully dedicate herself to her husband...

Dolores 'Dee Dee" Krajewski

Dolores 'Dee Dee" Krajewski

March 12, 2024

Dolores Krajewski (Noviski), age 93, passed away peacefully at Victory Lakes Senior Living Center in Lindenhurst, IL. Dee Dee was born to her parents, Edward and Sally Noviski, in Chicago and raised in Marion, IN along with her dear sister Bernice Terhune (Noviski) who preceded her in death by 3 days. 

She attended Ladywood High School in Indianapolis (Class of ‘47)...

Loretta "Ret" M. McCoy

Loretta "Ret" M. McCoy

March 12, 2024

Loretta “Ret” M. (Vaught) McCoy, 79, of Winnebago, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2024, in Rockford, Illinois. Born February 4, 1945, in Roswell, NM, the daughter of Loren Valentine and Inez Eudora (Johnson) Vaught. Graduated from Pecatonica High School in 1963. Throughout her life, Ret, as she was known to her many friends and family, was a people person....