Joan M. Cassaro

Joan Marie Owens Cassaro, died October 4th at 5:37 a.m. with her family by her side at Provena St. Josephs Center in Freeport, Illinois after a lengthy illness.nbsp; Joan was born in Rockford, Illinois on September 6th, 1939.nbsp; The only child of John Lester and Genevieve (Rielly) Owens, she grew up in Pecatonica Illinois, later moving to Rockford, Illinois with her parents.nbsp; She graduated from Muldoon High School in 1958.nbsp; She worked for Sears Roebuck and Co, many years during high school and after she graduated.nbsp; While working at Sears, she met James Eytalis.nbsp; On November 25, 1961, they were married; he died November 29th 1982.nbsp; At the age of 43, she was not only a widow, but continued to raise her four children, while maintaining a nurturing and loving home life.nbsp; She strongly ecouraged her children to love the Lord, and throughout her life was very spiritual.nbsp;nbsp; As a single parent she continued to work the night shift for several years, as anbsp; telecommunications operatornbsp;for Swedish American Hospital, in Rockford, Illinois.nbsp; On July 31, 1985 she met Frank Allen Cassaro, they were married January 18th 1989.nbsp; She had a very deep love for her husband, and enjoyed spending time with him vacationing in Northern Wisconsin, and going to Las Vegas, Nevada.nbsp; Joan was always a peacemaker, and did not like conflict or uneasy feelingsnbsp;Peace and tranquility always gave Joan a sense of wellbeing.nbsp; Being Irish, Joan always looked for a good laugh.nbsp; She loved to joke and never lost her sense of humor.nbsp; We could go to the ends of the earth and never find a more loving, compassionate mother.nbsp; Her love for her children was purely unconditional, and never ending.nbsp; The proudest moments in her life were when she could talk about her family, as she was always equipped with pictures of them.nbsp; At the end of the day, as long as others were happy, Joan was happy.nbsp; Survivors include her husband Frank, Winnebago, Illinois; children John (Mary Bivens) Eytalis, Rockford, Illinois, Linda (Tod) Binkley Forreston, Illinois, Amy (Bob) Meyers, Forreston, Illinois, and Greg (Megan Foley), German Valley, Illinois, Stepdaughters Laura Cassaro, Machesney Park, Illinois, Ann (Curt Bauman) Grinde Pequot Minnesota, Grandchildren: Mitchell (Paige) Binkley and Matthew Binkley, Christopher and Gregory Eytalis, Julia and Sarah Meyers; stepgrandchildren Evan and Eric Grinde, and Vanessa Bye, and several cousins.nbsp; Predeceased by her parents, first spouse James Eytalis, and grandaughter Jamie Eytalis.nbsp;

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, October 8th at 10:00 at St. Marys Catholic Church, Pecatonica, IL, with Monsignor Robert J. Sweeney officiating.nbsp; Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2:00 4:00pm with a rosary recited at 4:00pm on Sunday, October 7 th at Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, 3910 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford. Memorials to be established at a later date. To express condolences online, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.