February 22, 2012
Russell W. Borrowdale
Russell W. Borrowdale, 84, formerly of Blue Island and Monee, passed from this life January 23, 2012 at Manor Care West in Palos Heights.
Russell was born June 19, 1927 in Chicago to the late Edna nee Renner and the late Russell Wier Borrowdale. He is the husband of the late Dorothy nee Hatley and is beloved father of Barbara Fallon, Russell (Betty Lou) Borrowdale and Sandra Borrowdale. Russell is the loving grandfather of Wendy, Christine, Jennifer and Russell. He is the dear brother of June Pentecost, Richard Borrowdale and the late Robert Borrowdale.
Russell was a WWII United States Army veteran. He was formerly employed by The Borrowdale Company, which was owned by his father. Russell enjoyed traveling and had a sense of adventure.
Visitation for Russell was held Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 12:00 noon until the time of service at 3:00pm at the Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. The Rev. Eric Hillabrant officiated. Cremation was private.
Frank A. Gorcowski
Frank A. Gorcowski, 69, formerly of Calumet Park, passed from this life Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Palos Community Hospital.
Frank was born July 15, 1942 in Chicago to the late Corrine nee Werkowski and the late Frank A. Gorcowski. He is the beloved husband of Barbara nee Marek and the loving father of Kimberly Gorcowski, Brian (Kathy) Gorcowski and Kathleen (Michael) Kelley. Frank is the devoted grandfather of Ryan, Nick, Mackenzie and Shaylin. He is the dear brother of Madge (Jim) Eisenbath and the fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Frank was formerly employed by International Harvester, West Pullman Works. He was a former member of the Troublemakers Club and was a former active member of the Calumet Park Rams Football team. Frank was a Nascar and Chicago White Sox fan who also enjoyed collecting baseball cards.
Visitation for Frank was held Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at the Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. Holy Mass was celebrated Thursday, February 2, at St. Isidore Church. Fr. Eze Umunnakwe and Fr. Greg Rom officiated. Interment took place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Joseph M. Savino
Joseph M. Savino could rightly claim the mantle of self-made man. The third child of Antonio and Carmela (Turtora) Savino, and the first to be born in the United States, he grew up in the Chicago suburb of Blue Island in a neighborhood populated by families from his parents’ home town of Ripacandida in Italy’s Basilicata province, and did not speak English until he entered the first grade. From these beginnings, he graduated high school with honors and went to work as a draftsman. Over some resistance from his widowed mother, he became the first in his family to attend college as a scholarship student at Purdue University, where he majored in mechanical engineering, obtaining his Ph.D. Upon completing his doctorate in 1955, he went to work at what is now NASA Glenn, starting in the field of fluid mechanics. Highlights of his thirty-five years at NASA as engineer and post-retirement years as a consultant included participation in the wind energy and technology transfer programs. He had a reputation for being a clear and readable technical writer. He was fond of telling people he got paid to have fun.
Joe defined for himself two life-changing events: discovering work he loved, and meeting the woman he married. Joseph and Marilyn (née Sadock) were the parents of six, whom they bought up in Berea, OH, choosing a college town as a desirable place to raise children. Together they enjoyed travel, bicycling, theater, and dancing. Joe was especially proud of his role in making Berea bike-friendly and developing a bike safety program for children. Joe had a special love of classical music, and while not a musician himself, he made sure his children had the opportunity to play. He frequently attended performances at he B-W Conservatory over the years.
Joseph Savino was born November 6, 1928 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His last months were spent at Kemper House in Olmsted Falls. He died on January 23, 2012. He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Marilyn, daughter Rachel, granddaughter, Katy Dobbs, brother, Hank and sister, Mary. He is survived by his children, daughters, Juliana Sadock Savino, Teresa Savino (Roy), Mary Dobbs (Michael), sons Christopher, Michael (Beth), brothers Danny and Anthony (Annamaria) and eleven grandchildren, Jenni Frcho, Fred Cumberworth, Rosalie and Molly Carlson, Jeff and Charlie Dobbs, James and Avery Tishue, Constance and Maya Savino, and Sam Savino.
On a more personal note: my dad’s highest compliment to me was :you would have been a really good engineer” – he really could not understand how, given the choice, anyone would want to be anything else-and yet it was his reverence for music that undoubtedly influenced me to take that up. When we were coming up he had a small but well chosen record collection, and I remember how he would balance an LP gingerly on his splayed fingertips and warn us neither to touch the needle nor “jump the record” by running around too much. Two records made me cry so much as a kid that he only played them at night, Vivaldi’s Seasons and Beethoven’s Eröica Sym. The Eröica scared the hell out of me and I think I was well into my twenties before I listened to it in a live performance or voluntarily at all,
It still does.
Oh, and he was-even in his slack-jawed throes-wicked handsome. He and my mom were a gorgeous couple. By Juliana Sadock Savino
JANUARY 11, 2012
Verna A. Carrier
Verna A. Carrier nee Watson, 95, formerly of Blue Island, passed from this life Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at her residence.
Verna was born November 21, 1916 in Canada to the late Mahalia Gill and the late Albert Watson. She was the beloved wife of the late Vern Carrier. Marion is the loving mother of Rich (Vivian) and Sallie (Bob) Stachyra. She is the cherished grandmother of Jeffrey Carrier, Amie (Rey) Topete, Tiffanie Caputo, Aaron (Erin) Caputo, James Stachyra, Lisa (Mike) Gaidar and Nichole (Bob) LaRusso and the proud great grandmother of Mariah, Layla, Evangeline, Elijah, Michael, Ava, Brittani and Andrew. Verna is the dear sister of the late Elsie Howes and the late Fred Watson.
Verna was formerly employed by Illinois Bell in Marquette Park and a former member of TOPS, which used to meet at Memorial Park. She was devoted to her family and enjoyed spending time with them.
Visitation for Verna was held Friday, December 30, from 9:00 am until the time of service at 11:00 am at the Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. The Reverend Rey Topete officiated. Interment took place at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery.
Marion E. De Ruiter
Marion E. De Ruiter nee Bethman, 89, formerly of Blue Island and Midlothian, passed from this life December 12, 2011 at MetroSouth Medical Center.
Marion was born May 27, 1922 in Chicago to the late Frances nee Dagenais and the late Frederick Bethman. She is the beloved mother of Diane F. DeRuiter (Dr. Michael Johnson). Marion is the dear sister of Walter Bethman and the late Frederick (Betty) Bethman and the fond aunt of Michael (Christie) Bethman, Thomas (Arleen) Duffy and Robert (Nancy) Bethman. She is the devoted great aunt of Dylan and Summer Bethman.
Marion was formerly employed by Sears for more than thirty years. She has been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over thirty years and is a member of the St. Benedict Womens Club.
A visitation for Marion was held on Thursday, December 15, from 8:30 am until the time of chapel prayers at 10:15 am at the Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. Holy Mass was then celebrated at St. Benedict Church. Fr. Ismael Sandoval officiated. Interment took place at St. Benedict Cemetery.
Jesus H. Esparza
Jesus H. Esparza, 93, of Blue Island, passed from this life Sunday, January 1, 2012 at MetroSouth Medical Center.
Jesus was born October 8, 1918 in Mexico to the late Juana Esparza Maldonado and the late Luz Esparza Castaneda. He is the beloved husband of Maria Ines nee Montoya. They have been united in marriage for seventy-two years, and from this beautiful union eleven children were born. Jesus is the loving father of Alicia (the late Jesus) Esparza, Luis (Oralia) Esparza, Ofelia (Manuel) Eudave, Jesus (Isabella) Esparza, Basilia (Heliodoro) Esparza, Manuel (Nancy) Esparza, Javier (Judy) Esparza, Horacio (Teresa) Esparza, Maribel (Jose) Lopez, Leonel (Michelle) Esparza and Maria Ines (Jose) Alvarado. He is the proud grandfather of fifty-one, devoted great grandfather of fifty-five and cherished great great grandfather of two. Jesus was preceded in death by four siblings. He leaves many other family members and friends to honor his memory.
Visitation for Jesus was held Wednesday, January 4, from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm at which time Holy Mass was celebrated at the Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. Services will also be held in Aguascalientes, AGS, Mexico. Interment will be at Jardines Eternos.