Obituaries

Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory LTD. Obituaries

Local obituaries for the Rockford, IL area

David W. Ross

David W. Ross

March 10, 2020

David W. Ross, 77, of Rockford, passed away suddenly on March 10, 2020. Born on April 2, 1942 in Freeport, Illinois, son of the late Albert and Esther (Mennenga) Ross. Survived by Ruth, his wife of 56 years; son, Vince Ross; daughter, Val (Verne) Sharp; grand-daughters, Whitney and Leya Sharp, all of Rockford; sisters, Darlene (Michael) Scott of Machesney Park...

Betty M. Balke

Betty M. Balke

March 9, 2020

Betty M. Balke, 94, of Rockford, passed away after complications from a stroke. Born in Larned, Kansas on the family farm to parents John and Emma Meeker on February 19, 1926. Betty was one of ten children. Graduated valedictorian from Rockford Hall Adult High School in 1975. Sales associate at Sears, downtown for 19 years. Housemother at nurses dorm at...

Claude Joseph Simpkins

Claude Joseph Simpkins

March 8, 2020

Claude Joseph Simpkins, 64, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away March 8, 2020. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA January 10, 1956, the son of Cline (Clyde) and Mary Catherine (Richards) Simpkins. Claude was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a coin collector and a history buff, especially interested in the Civil War and Westward expansion. Those who knew...

Anna "Ann" T. Pellegrini

Anna "Ann" T. Pellegrini

March 7, 2020

Anna “Ann” (Frisella) Pellegrini, 95, Madison, Wisconsin passed away March 7, 2020 at All Saints Assisted Living, Madison, WI. Ann was born August 11, 1924 in Rockford, IL to Carmello and Maria (Armato) Frisella. She was baptized and took her first communion at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Rockford and graduated from Rockford West High School. Ann married...

Sophie  F. Mccoy

Sophie F. Mccoy

March 7, 2020

Sophie Frances McCoy, 101, of Rockford, IL passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Anam Care. Born May 29, 1918 in Milwaukee, WI; daughter of Joseph and Stella (Stepsis) Rozum. Sophie’s family moved to Rockford when she was a young child and she grew up at the family home on 11th Street. She graduated from Morris Kennedy Grade School,...

Bertha E. Edwards

Bertha E. Edwards

March 6, 2020

Bertha E. Edwards, 82, passed away on March 6, 2020. Born March 13, 1937 in Rockford, IL daughter of Peter and Mary (Abate) Maggio. She graduated from West High School in 1955. She retired from Rockford Products in 2000. Bertha took pride in her house, caring for it and decorating for the holidays. She also enjoyed cooking and listening to...

Michael J. Delany

Michael J. Delany

March 5, 2020

Michael J. Delany, 93, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Colleen (Lane), six children, Michael Jr. (Angie Schmidt), Mary, Peter (Heidi Zeker), John, Julie (Bill) Heberer, and Dan (Lynne), twelve grandchildren, including Maggie, Katie & Payton, Erin, Sarah & Will, Ben & Ellie Heberer, Tommy, Charlie, Celia & Gemma,...

Harry J. "Jerry" Nichols

Harry J. "Jerry" Nichols

March 5, 2020

Harry J. “Jerry” Nichols, 88, of Rockford, died on Thursday, March 5, 2020 with his family by his side. Born October 11, 1931 in Rockford, son of Harry J. and Florence Sundell Nichols, Sr. He graduated from East High School, class of 1949. Married his loving wife, Wilma Martin, on October 25, 1952 in Dubuque, IA. Employed for many years...

Matthew "Matt" J. Erb

Matthew "Matt" J. Erb

March 5, 2020

Matthew (Matt) John Erb, 49, Rockford, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2020, taking with him the love of all his family. Matt was born on January 15, 1971, in Cleveland, Ohio to Roger and Joyce (Muldowney) Erb. He moved to Rockford, Illinois in 1974 where he remained a lifelong resident. On June 17, 2000, he married Pamela Borgens in...

Marguerite "Sally" Francis Lamonica

Marguerite "Sally" Francis Lamonica

March 5, 2020

Marguerite Francis ‘Sally’ LaMonica , 91, of Rockford passed away Mar 5th, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Chicago November 5th, 1928, daughter of Douglas & Marguerite Dorothy Hess. Sally graduated Austin High School in 1945. Sally married the love of her life, Mike LaMonica on July 2nd, 1949 in Chicago. Sally’s life took her from Chicago, IL,...

Pamela Kay Smith

Pamela Kay Smith

March 5, 2020

Pamela Kay Smith, 58, of Rockford, IL passed away Thursday, March 5th, 2020. Born in Rockford, IL to Isaiah and Juanita (Turman) Richardson, Pam leaves behind her husband of 40 years, Dennis Smith, her daughter LaTonya Smith, and her son Dennis Smith Jr. Pam served the community for over 20 years as a full-time volunteer minister, and was known for...

Dr. / Col. Robert  D. Restuccia

Dr. / Col. Robert D. Restuccia

March 5, 2020

Dr. / Col. Robert D. Restuccia, 75, of Rockford, IL passed away Thursday, March 5, 2020. Born November 13, 1944 in Trenton, New Jersey; the son of Peter and Adeline (Maruca) Restuccia. Robert attended Trenton Catholic Boys High School, class of 1962. He was a graduate of Lehigh University in 1966 then continued as a graduate student at Rutgers University...

Paula M. Samerdyke

Paula M. Samerdyke

March 5, 2020

Paula M. Samerdyke, 79, of Rockford passed away March 5, 2020 at OSF St. Anthony Hospital. Born April 6, 1940 in Cleveland, OH, the daughter of John & Mary (Major) Steber. Graduated with her BSN from St. John’s University in Cleveland. Married her loving husband, Bertram “Bert” P. Samerdyke on June 22, 1963. A faithful member of Holy Family Catholic...

Jerry  D. Drake

Jerry D. Drake

March 4, 2020

Jerry D. Drake, 83, of Rockford, IL went peacefully home after a short battle with cancer Wednesday, March 4, 2020. He was born September 3, 1936 in Rockford, IL the son of Walter D. and Mary E. (McReynolds) Drake. Jerry attended East High School, class of 1954. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. He married...

Brian Keith Cleveland

Brian Keith Cleveland

March 4, 2020

Brian Cleveland, 64, died in his home March 4, 2020. Brian was the comeback kid when it came to the challenges his body threw at him. At 18 he proved wrong the doctors and even his minister at the time who said he would never walk again. Brian stood proud and strong for years beyond their “edicts”. Sadly, this time...

Betty Katherine Pilbin

Betty Katherine Pilbin

March 3, 2020

Betty Katherine Pilbin, 93, passed away surrounded by her loving family on March 3, 2020. Born April 7, 1926 in Rockford, she was the daughter of Ole and Edith (Anderson) Vogen. A graduate of West High School, Betty went on to be an RN through Swedish American Hospital and was a scrub nurse under Dr. McPherson. She married the love...

James A. Tracy

James A. Tracy

March 3, 2020

James A. Tracy, 96, of Rockford, died March 3, 2020 at his home surrounded by family. Born on June 18, 1923 in Kewanee, Illinois, to Glenn K. and Clara (Searles) Tracy. He grew up in Geneseo, Illinois. Served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Married his high school sweetheart, Wilma Amelia Loenser, on July 1, 1944. Graduated from the University...

Richard Paul Mcnally

Richard Paul Mcnally

March 2, 2020

Richard (Dick) P. McNally, 84, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home March 2, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Janesville, Wisconsin, July 8, 1935, the son of Paul A. and Eva (Marx) McNally. Richard graduated from St. Francis High School in Milwaukee and attended Marquette University. On June 15, 1957, Richard was united in marriage to...

Thomas Patrick Noble

Thomas Patrick Noble

March 2, 2020

Thomas Patrick Noble, 63, of Battle Creek, Michigan, formerly of Rockford IL, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2020. He was born on June 29, 1956, the son of Michael Lawrence Noble and Dorothy Rose (Ferraro) Noble. Tom worked at Ingersoll Cutting Tools for over 30 years. Tom is survived by his mother, Dorothy; two sons, Christopher (Samantha) Noble, Michael...

Bounmy  Phouvieng

Bounmy Phouvieng

March 2, 2020

Bounmy Phouvieng, 84, of Rockford, passed away Monday, March 2, 2020 in OSF St. Anthony Hospital at 2:58am, surrounded by her family. Born May 1, 1935 in Pakse Laos, the daughter of Fa and Pun. Married Yeung Kai (aka Khamsouk Phouvieng) in 1955. They moved to Rockford in 1981 and raised their four children. She enjoyed cooking, being involved in...