Verlee M. Kassel

Verlee Kassel, 83, of Rockford, IL, passed away on January 29, 2025 at Alpine Fireside Health Center. 

She was born on September 4, 1941, in Elizabeth IL, the daughter of Ralph and Violet (Winter) Hesselbacher. She graduated from Freeport High School in1959. Verlee always wanted to be a nurse and obtained her Nursing Degree from Freeport Memorial Hospital in 1962. She then began her lifelong nursing career, working in Freeport, IL, Alaska, California, Texas and finally Rockford, IL. She spent the majority of her career as a surgical nurse at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, where she received a Nursing Excellence Award in 1997. She was an expert in the field of nursing and generously helped and cared for others in and out of the hospital.

Verlee married the love of her life, David Kassel, on June 26, 1965 in Fairbanks, Alaska. They enjoyed 38 years together, raising their sons and traveling around the country. Verlee enjoyed quilting, baking, puzzles, playing dominoes, gardening and lunches out with her friends. She was a loving grandmother and taught her granddaughters to quilt, knit and crochet. She was well known for her fun loving nature, expert quilting, and thecoconut balls she made at Christmas. She loved to travel around the country taking many driving trips with her husband, Dave, her sister, Kay, as well as friends. She is greatly missed by her family and friends. Verlee is survived by her children, Scott (Dora) Kassel and Jeffrey (Lara) Kassel;grandchildren, Allison Kassel and Mary Kassel; sister, Kay Hesselbacher; aunt, Lucille Brown and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Verlee is predeceased by her husband, David Kassel; her parents, Ralph and Violet Hesselbacher; and brothers, Ralph Jr. Hesselbacher, Eugene (Vivian) Hesselbacher, Wayne (Lynn) Hesselbacher and Ronald (Peggy) Hesselbacher. 

A visitation will take place Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 South Mulford Road, Rockford, IL from 9:00 to 10:00a.m.. A funeral service will follow at 10:00a.m. Final resting place will be at Winnebago Cemetery, 2824 Westfield Road, Winnebago, IL. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation https://www.bcrf.org