Melvin J. Bernardy
Forklift operator
Melvin J. Bernardy, 79, a 10-year resident of Park Forest, formerly of Sauk Village, died Wednesday at Glenshire Nursing Home in Richton Park. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Gerardi Funeral Home, 42 E. Lincoln Highway, Frankfort. Mr. Bernardy was born on Nov. 6, 1920 in Minneota, Minn. He worked as a forklift operator for Republic Steel and belonged to the American Steel Workers. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Mauro of Park Forest; two sons, Jerry Bernardy and Veryl Bernardy; three brothers, Bud Bernardy, Randy Bernardy and Leonard Bernardy; a sister, Barbara Summerfelt; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Geneva, died in 1995.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

Sophia Gervase
Retired technician
Sophia Gervase, 92, of Daytona Beach, Fla., formerly of Chicago, died Tuesday at the Shangri La Nursing Home in Daytona Beach. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Brady-Gill Funeral Home, 2929 W. 87th St., Evergreen Park. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Chicago. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Mrs. Gervase was born March 1, 1907, in Debrecen, Hungary. She later moved to America and settled in Chicago. For 25 years, she worked as an assembly technician for International Harvester. She also was an avid bingo player. She is survived by one daughter, Julie Chibe of Daytona Beach; four sons, Paul Hagadus of Calumet Park, Albert Gervase of Alsip, Roy Gervase of New Palestine, Ind., and Thomas Gervase of Munster, Ind.; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Her sister, Susan Roberts, died a few hours after Mrs. Gervase died. Memorials may be made to Calvin Reformed United Church of Christ in Lynwood.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

Kenneth C. Grahn
Retired foreman
Kenneth C. Grahn, 67, of Orland Park, died Wednesday at Loyola Foster McGaw Hospital in Maywood. A funeral mass will be said at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Michael Church in Orland Park. The Rev. Edward McLaughlin will officiate. Burial will be private. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave., Orland Park. Mr. Grahn was born on May 30, 1932, in Chicago., He worked as a foreman for Illinois Bell Telephone for 36 years until he retired. He served in the Army and was a long-time member of the Lions Club of Orland Park. He is survived by his wife, Maureen Grahn; three daughters, Susan Van Huis and Donna Sayles, both of Orland Park, and Sharon Lacy of Texas,; his mother, Henrietta Grahn; a sister, Donna Gogola of Oak Forest; and two grandchildren. Memorials can be made to Loyola University Medical Center or Orland Park Lions Club.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

Mabel L. Heyden
Pullman employee
Mabel L. Heyden (nee Krueger), 96, of Blue Island, died Wednesday at St. James Hospice in Chicago Heights. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Christ Memorial United Church of Christ in Blue Island. Burial will be at First Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Alsip. Visitation was Friday at Krueger Funeral Home in Blue Island. Mrs. Heyden was born March 22, 1903, in Blue Island. She worked in the accounting department of the Pullman Car Works for 20 years, retiring in 1942. She's a former member of Old St. Paul's Church in Blue Island, where she served on the Young People's League, and Women's Guild and Choir. She was president and secretary of the women's guild of Christ Memorial Church, and was a charter member and secretary of the Jolly Seniors. She is survived by two nieces and two nephews.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

Donna Lynn McIntire
Security specialist
Donna Lynn McIntire (nee Rector), 54, of Monee, formerly of Platte City, Mo., died Thursday at home after a long illness. A funeral service is not planned. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Hirsch Funeral Homes, 507 Exchange St., Crete. Mrs. McIntire was born on May 11, 1945, in Chicago. She worked for 10 years as a technical assistant specialist for ADT Security in Kansas City. She is survived by a son, Jack McIntire of Berwyn; four daughters, Dona McIntire of Taylorville, Candy McIntire of Sleepeye, Minn., Jackie Stern of Monee and Sandra Lambert of Berwyn; her mother, Frances Rector of Alsip; four sisters, Joanne Berman and Shelby Benveniste, both of Alsip, Rose Mary Rector of Kankakee, and Bonnie Hooker of Ramsey; and nine grandchildren. The family requests memorials to the American Cancer Society in Tinley Park, or the American Diabetes Association in Chicago.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

Suzanne Prigge
Former Chicagoan
Suzanne Prigge, 95, of Sun City West, Ariz., formerly of Chicago, died Feb. 26 in Sun City West. A funeral mass was held Tuesday in Sun City West, where she had moved to from Chicago in 1986. Mrs. Prigge was born July 29, 1904, in Rumelange, Luxembourg. She is survived by one son, Joseph Henrys of Chicago; one daughter, Mary Mastronardi of Sun City West; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

James F. Petersen
Retired mechanical engineer
James F. Petersen, 73, of Blue Island, died Thursday at RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 S. Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. The Rev. Richard McCulley will officiate. Burial will be at Cedar Park Cemetery in Chicago. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Mr. Petersen was born on April 1, 1926, in Rochelle, Ill. He worked as a mechanical engineer for Illinois Central Railroad for 39 years until he retired. He was the owner and operator of J&M Heating and Cooling Co. in Blue Island. He served in the Army during World War II and was a member of Calumet Lodge A.F. & A.M. He is survived by his wife, Mildred Petersen. Memorials can be made to Evangelical Community Church, 2207 W. 120th St., Blue Island, Ill. 60406.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

John E. Schneider
Business owner
John E. Schneider, 53, of Chicago Heights, died Wednesday at Hines Memorial Veterans Hospital in Maywood. A funeral mass will be said at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Park Forest. The Rev. John Ryan will officiate. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Steger. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Kerr-Parzygnot Funeral Home, 540 Dixie Highway, Chicago Heights. Mr. Schneider was born on March 1, 1946, in Dubuque, Iowa. He was the owner of Commercial Refrigeration & Controls, and taught classes at Prairie State College and South Suburban College. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and received the Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Schneider was enrolled in the Washington D.C. Navy Memorial and was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Park Forest. He was survived by two daughters, Karen Jacobucci of Chicago Heights and Jill Jacobucci of Chicago; a son, Guy Jacobucci; and three brothers, Paul Schneider of Wisconsin, Ralph Schneider of Montana and Mark Schneider of Indiana.
Pub. Saturday, March 4, 2000

Marie C. Diepstra
Homemaker
Marie C. Diepstra (nee Tazelaar), 84, of Chicago, died Tuesday at Rest Haven West Nursing Center in Downers Grove. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at Knollcrest Chapel in Lombard. Burial will be at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Stickney. Mrs. Diepstra was born on Oct. 1, 1915, in Chicago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Lombard Christian Reformed Church. She is survived by her husband, Andrew Diepstra; two daughters, Dorothy Allen of Stickney and Lorraine Custard of Missouri; a son, Dr. Albert Diepstra of Oak Brook; three sisters, Gladys Teune of Downers Grove, Wilma Lanenga of Chicago and Gertrude Vander Laan; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials can be made to Timothy Christian School, 188 W. Butterfield Road, Elmhurst, Ill., 60126; Rest Haven Christian Services, 15250 S. Prince Drive, South Holland, Ill., 60473; or Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights, Ill., 60463. Arrangements were made by Knollcrest Funeral Home in Lombard.
Pub. Saturday, October 30, 1999

Dolores M. Kearnes
Homemaker
Dolores M. "Dolly" Kearnes (nee Ciolkowski), 70, of Midlothian, died Thursday at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. A funeral mass will be said at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Christopher Church, 14641 S. Keeler Ave., Midlothian. Burial will be at St. Benedict Cemetery in Crestwood. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at Hickey Memorial Chapels, 4201 W. 147th St., Midlothian. Mrs. Kearnes was born on May 28, 1929, in Chicago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the St. Christopher Rosary Altar Society, the Archdiocesian Council of Catholic Women and vice president of Vicarate No. 5. She is survived by her husband, Celmer "Jerry" Kearnes; two daughters, Pamela Curran of Midlothian and Mary Jo Corsaro of Lake in the Hills, Ill.; a son, Garry Kearnes of Tinley Park; two brothers, Walter Silks and Arthur Ciolkowski both of Aurora; and four grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association.
Pub. Saturday, October 30, 1999

Dorothea J. Leeper
Retired gift shop manager
Dorothea J. Leeper, 74, of Steger, formerly of Culver, Ind., died Sunday at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey. Services will be private. Mrs. Leeper was born on June 18, 1925, in Steger. She was a retired gift shop manager for the Illinois Tollway's Lincoln Oasis. She is survived by a son, David Leeper Sr. of Steger; a sister-in-law, Jean Kindred of Culver, Ind.; and two grandchildren. Arrangements were made by Jerome Zimny Funeral Home.
Pub. Saturday, October 30, 1999

Richard Vysther
Supervisor
Richard Anthony Vysther, 55, of Chicago Heights, died Thursday at home. A funeral mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. today at St. Agnes Church in Chicago Heights. The Rev. John Siemianowski will officiate. Burial will be at St. Casimir Cemetery in Chicago. Mr. Vysther was born on Aug. 25, 1944, in Chicago. He worked as a quality supervisor for North American Gear in Chicago for 12 years. He was a member of the Salmon Unlimited, the Indiana Harbor Yacht Club, American Legion Post No. 131. He was a veteran of the armed forces. He is survived by his wife, Anita Vysther (nee Stanish); two sons, Duane Vysther and Kevin Vysther, both of Chicago Heights; and two grandchildren.
Pub. Saturday, October 30, 1999

Steve G. Dudek
Crane operator
Steve G. Dudek, 65, of Chicago's West Lawn community, died Wednesday at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Szykowny Funeral Home, 4901 S. Archer Ave., Chicago. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Chicago. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mr. Dudek was born on March 25, 1935, in Chicago. He worked as a crane operator for a factory. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis C. Dudek; two daughters, Carole Lewandowski and Linda Wardynski; a brother, Edward Dudek; a brother-in-law, James Krabec; and five grandchildren.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Lauretta M. Gerdes
Homemaker
Lauretta M. Gerdes, 85, of Blue Island, died Wednesday at Manor Care Nursing Home in Palos Heights. A funeral mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Benedict Church, 2339 York St., Blue Island. Burial will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 S. Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. Ms. Gerdes was born on June 25, 1915 in Blue Island. She was a homemaker and a lifelong member of St. Benedict Church. She is survived by three brothers, William Gerdes of Florida, Ralph Gerdes of Blue Island and Thomas Gerdes of Michigan.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Casimir S. Kedzior
Retired laborer
Casimir S. Kedzior, 82, of Chicago's Garfield Ridge community, died Tuesday at home. A funeral mass will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. Daniel the Prophet Church, 5330 S. Nashville Ave., Chicago. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice. Mr. Kedzior was born on Jan. 19, 1918, in Chicago. He was a dock worker for ABF Trucking. He is survived by three daughters, Anne DeVries, Karen Miller and Michele Law; and nine grandchildren.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Mildred Nerche
Retired executive secretary
Mildred Nerche, 93, of Dolton, died Wednesday at Manor Care Nursing Home in South Holland. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Brown Funeral Home, 13820 S. Lincoln Ave., Dolton. The Rev. Raymond Bell will officiate. Burial will be at Oakland Memory Lanes in Dolton. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Brown Funeral Home. A Rebbekah service will be held at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mrs. Nerche was born on Nov. 16, 1907 in Dolton. She was a retired executive secretary for Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. She was a 70-year member of the WH Day Rebbekah Lodge 328 and a member of the Ladies Encampment Auxiliary United 193. She also was a life member of Immanuel Bethel United Church of Christ and loved to bake. She is survived by two nieces, Beverly Rahn of Montana and Barbara Srncik of Dolton; and several great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Roy A. Panabaker
Centenarian
Roy A. Panabaker, 104, of Oak Lawn, died Monday at Salem Village in Joliet. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home, 11333 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Gardens South Cemetery. Mr. Panabaker worked at The Swift and Co. in Chicago and Ridgeland Schools in Oak Lawn. He served in the Army during World War I and was a member of American Legion Post 36, John B. Sherman Lodge 80 and Oak Lawn Lodge 815. He was also an avid gardener and animal lover. He is survived by a daughter, Ruth Johnson; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Helen J. Panozzo
Homemaker
Helen J. Panozzo (nee Wronski), 78, of Schererville, Ind., formerly of Dyer, Ind., died Tuesday at her daughter's home. A funeral mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Michael Church in Schererville, Ind. The Rev. Patrick Connolly will officiate. Burial will be private. Mrs. Panozzo was born on July 10, 1922 in Chicago. She was a homemaker. She is survived by a daughter, Cynthia Davis of Merrillville, Ind.; four sons, Louis Panozzo of Pennsylvania, Dominic Panozzo of Beecher, August Panozzo of Indiana and James Panozzo of Bolingbrook; two sisters, Marcella Brozd and Geraldine Majka, both of Chicago; a brother, Edward Wronski of Mount Sterling; her companion, Anton Spanjol of Indiana; 11 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony Hospice, 203 Franciscan Drive, Crown Point, Ind. 46307. Arrangements were made by Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home in Chicago Heights.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Alton Sanders Jr.
Retired mason
Alton Sanders Jr., 67, of Thornton, died Tuesday at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thornton. The Rev. David Speerbrecker will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Glen Cemetery in Lansing. Mr. Sanders was born on March 28, 1933 in Huntsville, Ala. He was a retired mason and a member of the Thornton Lions Club and Fathomeer's Diving Club. He also served in the Army and was the Sunday school superintendent at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He is survived by his wife, Janet; two daughters, Sharon Burrink of South Holland and Connie Simon of Lansing; a sister, Elizabeth Neville of Arizona; two brothers, James Haddon of Markham and John Sanders of South Holland; and seven grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Altar Guild. Arrangements were made by Smits, DeYoung-Vroegh Funeral Home.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Lawrence R. Sommer
Retired police officer
Lawrence R. Sommer, 87, of Blue Island, died Sunday at LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. today at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, with the Rev. George Schopp officiating. Burial will be at the cemetery. Mr. Sommer was born May 7, 1913 in Chicago. He was a Chicago police officer and detective, and retired in 1976. He is survived by two daughters, Joan West and Carolyn Harris, both of Blue Island; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Maryellen D. Williams
Retired bookkeeper
Maryellen D. Williams (nee Ryan), of Oak Lawn, died Sunday at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. A funeral mass will be said at 10 a.m. today at St. Linus Church, 10301 S. Lawler Ave., Oak Lawn. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in Evergreen Park. Mrs. Williams was a retired bookkeeper at Blue M Electric Co. in Blue Island. She was a volunteer at Christ Hospital for 10 years, and she was an avid bowler and enjoyed dancing at the Glendora Ballroom. She is survived by five daughters, Carol Richards of Rockwall, Texas, Kathleen Hocutt of Moline, Marilyn Williams of Chicago, Patricia Frieders of Aurora and Kathleen Green of Niles; two sons, Stephen Shanta of Amboy, Wash., and Robert Williams of Park Ridge; a sister, Sister Ellen Marie Ryan; a brother, John Ryan; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Josephine Marie Wright
Homemaker
Josephine Marie Wright (nee Tobin), 95, of Baton Rouge, La., formerly of Chicago's Beverly community, died Nov. 22 at Regency Place in Baton Rouge. A funeral mass will be said at 10 a.m. today at St. Michael Church, 14327 Highland Ave., Orland Park. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in Evergreen Park. Mrs. Wright was born Feb. 27, 1905 in Chicago. She was a homemaker. She is survived by a daughter, Joan Moran of Baton Rouge; a son, Joseph Wright of Orland Park; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Arrangements were handled by Tews Funeral Home in Homewood.
Pub. Friday, December 1, 2000

Vera Jane Kollath
Substitute teacher
Vera Jane Kollath, nee Soest, 75, of Orland Park, died Tuesday at ManorCare in South Holland. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave., Orland Park. Burial will be at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Mrs. Kollath was born March 28, 1927, in Chicago. She was a resident of South Holland's Rest Haven Nursing Home for eight years, and formerly lived in Orland Park. She was a homemaker and a part-time substitute teacher for Orland School District 135 and other south suburban schools. Mrs. Kollath also wrote some articles for the Daily Southtown in the 1970s and 1980s. Mrs. Kollath is survived by two sons, Kenneth Kollath and Jeff Kollath; two daughters, Sue Kollath and Janet Lotter; a sister-in-law, Shirley Wattjes; and seven grandchildren.
Pub. Thursday, August 1, 2002

Marina 'Rena' Morandin
Homemaker
Marina "Rena" Morandin, nee Ronzani, 92, of Chicago's Pullman community, died Wednesday at her home. A funeral mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony Church, 11533 S. Prairie Ave., Chicago. Burial will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Panozzo Brothers Funeral Home, 300 E. 115th St., Chicago. Mrs. Morandin was born May 9, 1910, in Chicago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Holy Rosary Society of St. Anthony Church. She was also a member of the Roma Lodge of the Italo American National Union, the Auxiliary of Roseland American Legion Post 49, the Pullman Civic Organization, the Historic Pullman Foundation, the Senior Citizens of St. Anthony Church and the Pullman Seniors. Mrs. Morandin is survived by a son, Raymond Rigoni; two brothers, Carl Ronzani and Louis Ronzani; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Pub. Thursday, August 1, 2002