Joan Hadac
A ‘kind and giving heart’
.
Family, friends remember columnist Joan Hadac
From staff reports
Those who knew Joan (Heelan) Hadac never seemed surprised that she landed in jobs where she helped people. It was simply her nature, her kind and giving heart, they’d say.
A lifelong Southwest Side resident, Mrs. Hadac died at home in hospice care on May 5, three months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 63 years old.
Mrs. Hadac joined the Greater Southwest News-Herald in 1987 as a news reporter but quickly earned a promotion to an editor’s post.
Joan Hadac
Later, she was promoted again, to founding managing editor of the Southwest Senior newspaper.
In recent years, she was best known as the front-page columnist of the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound, companion publication to the News-Herald.
Early years
Born Joan Marie Heelan on Sept. 4, 1959, she grew up mostly in the Gage Park neighborhood, graduating from St. Clare of Montefalco School in 1973 and Lourdes High School in 1977.
She had her first taste of journalism at St. Xavier College, where she double-majored in English and Mass Communications and joined the Xavierite student newspaper. She earned a promotion to co-editor and later editor, and she spoke well of her instructors, most notably Joel Sternberg and Dennis Wheeler. Upon graduation in 1984, she was presented with the Distinguished Student Service Award.
It was at SXC where she met Tim Hadac, a fellow student journalist, her future husband and love of her life. They were wed in 1985 at St. Clare of Montefalco Church.
Early in her career in newspapers, Mrs. Hadac’s work earned acclaim, including a nomination for the prestigious Lisagor Award for a story she wrote examining racial change in Gage Park through the prism of religion.
Her proudest role
Mrs. Hadac took a break from community journalism from 1991-98 to bear and raise the couple’s two daughters, Johanna Grace and Mary Sheila. For the rest of her days, she would refer to that time as “the best seven years of my life.”
“Joan had so much to be proud of in her professional life; but by far, she was most proud of being a mother and later a grandmother,” her husband said.
“She loved and was always proud of our daughters. She absolutely doted on our four grandsons and looked forward to when they were in town for a visit.”
She and her husband raised their daughters in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood, where they still lived at the time of her death.
Back to the newsroom
In 1998 she returned to community journalism, covering beats in Downers Grove and Clarendon Hills for the Suburban Life Newspapers. She was a key member of a team of reporters and editors that won awards from the Illinois Press Association and the Suburban Newspapers of America for riveting, localized coverage of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and for coverage of the Downers Grove High School District 99 teachers’ strike in 2002.
In 2012, Mrs. Hadac and her husband founded the Southwest Chicago Post, an online news service. She anticipated that the endeavor would be small, with a regular audience of about 50 people; but over time it became one of Chicago’s largest neighborhood-based news services, with more than 3.2 million cumulative hits on its website and more than 22,000 followers on its Facebook page.
Her kindness was evident in what she wrote as a news and features reporter.
“Most news reporters I’ve met can be kind of hard edged,” said Garfield Ridge businessman and community leader Al Cacciottolo. “But not Joan, not ever. She was a reporter with a heart and was at her best when she shared human-interest stories with her readers, stories about interesting people making the community a better place. And by doing that, she made the neighborhood a better place, year after year, story after story.”
Outside of journalism, Mrs. Hadac served as parish secretary at St. Joseph Parish, helping people with a wide range of needs, including informal grief counseling to men and women who had recently lost their loved ones.
Most recently, she was employed by Chicago Glass Blocks. Her value to the company was appreciated by the Basic family, founders and longtime owners of the company.
“Joan was the face of our neighborhood family business,” the family said in a statement. “Always greeting customers pleasantly, friendly and with the wonderful sound of her smooth-jazz station playing in the background. Numerous customers continue to ask about her. Our sincere condolences to her family. She will be greatly missed by our family, her co-workers and customers.”
Mrs. Hadac also was a former president of the Lourdes High School Alumnae Association and a former two-term school board president at St. Joseph School.
Mrs. Hadac was preceded in death by her father, James R. Heelan; sister, Sheila Forsner; and infant nephew, Alexander Edward Forsner. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughters, Johanna Grace (Michael) Smith and Cosmo Mary Sheila; grandsons, Raphael Elijah, Anthony Blaise, Aran Joseph and Patrick Fulton Smith; mother, M. Eileen Heelan; sisters, Eileen (Edward) Forsner, Bernadette (Lynda Smith), Patrice (Joseph Monaghan) and Monica (Brian) Swift; and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and many others.
Visitation is Friday, May 19, 2023 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem), Summit. Visitation at the funeral home on Saturday, May 20 from 8:30 a.m. until time of prayers at 9:30 a.m. Procession from the funeral home to St. Mary Church,105 Herrick Street, Riverside, IL, for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass. Joan will be buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery near the graves of her maternal grandparents, Edward and Joan McGee. Please offer your thoughts and condolences to Joan’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.
32 Comments
Local News
Home security cameras could be big help to Orland cops
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Residents of Orland Park could have a hand in solving crime in the village. The board of trustees unanimously approved to move forward with a voluntary security camera registration program at its Jan. 4 meeting. It’s expected to start on Feb. 1. This program gives citizens and businesses a chance…
Ailing eagle on the mend
Spread the loveSeveral blocks northwest of Garfield Ridge—just west of 47th and Harlem–motorists late last month noticed an eagle flying low and acting erratically. The Villa Park-based Chicago Bird Collision Monitors was contacted, and its volunteers found and captured the majestic bird. It was transported to a facility owned and operated by Glen Ellyn-based Willowbrook…
Can’t we just fast-forward to spring?
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. Is it spring yet? Is the pandemic over yet? Not that I’m impatient or anything. I want to move forward past all the negative COVID-19 has brought to my life and everyone else’s life. I want to see…
Scavenger Sale different this year, Pappas says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ 2022 Scavenger Sale will look different, as the Treasurer’s Office takes steps to help small developers, homeowners and investors rebuild neighborhoods and create generational wealth. Under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office is required to conduct a Scavenger Sale every two years, offering at auction the…
Give poor countries a break, Chuy says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) is one of 18 Members of Congress who recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging her to use the voice and vote of the United States at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to abolish the IMF’s surcharge policy, which requires countries…
Stop sale of dangerous drugs online, Rush says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Legislation designed to ensure that social media platforms and websites are held accountable for failing to prevent the sale of dangerous, illegal drugs on their platforms has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1st). The Domain Reform for Unlawful Drug Sellers (DRUGS) Act also was introduced by U.S. David…
$1 million Lucky Day Lotto jackpot won in Bridgeview
Spread the loveFrom staff reports If you bought a Lucky Day Lotto ticket in Bridgeview for Thursday night’s drawing, you may want to check it right away – that’s because you might be a newly-minted millionaire! Circle K gas station, located at 7050 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview, sold a $1 million winning Lucky Day…
Poisoned bald eagle found in Lyons woods
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Bald eagles are becoming increasingly more common in the Chicagoland area, and avid bird enthusiasts said this is no surprise. “I have been watching the same pair of bald eagles and their offspring for 12 years now,” Sue Delfiacco said. To Delfiacco, the pair of birds are like family. Every…
Ada Hook was a Chicago Lawn original
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 Last week we learned about the passing of two ladies with ties to the community: Mary Ellen St. Aubin and Harriet Jendrach. On the heels of that news, I just learned of the recent passing of…
Meeting those new year’s challenges
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Hi neighbors! I hope everyone is enjoying January. This is a good time to stay inside and organize your home. Start with a room or a closet or even a drawer. I decided to start with the cabinet that I keep…
Neighbors
Mother’s Day is truly a day to be celebrated
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Mother’s Day happens on Sunday, May 12. If this isn’t something to celebrate, I don’t know what is. Motherhood means new life, new beginnings, new possibilities. Even if you won’t be seeing your mom, you can still…
Boys Volleyball | Marist tops Nazareth for ninth straight win
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Marist ran its winning streak to nine game with a 25-16, 25-17 victory over East Suburban Catholic Conference rival Nazareth on May 2. The win streak is the RedHawks’ second longest streak of the season after their season-opening 12-match run. Eight of the nine matches during the current streak…
Saint Xavier men’s volleyball finishes historic season in nation’s top 4
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. But the Cougars fell to eventual national champion Georgetown (Kentucky), 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10, on May 3 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although there was…
St. Francis first baseman Nate Maliska earns conference POW honors
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent The University of St. Francis sophomore first baseman Nate Maliska was chosen the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week in baseball for April 7. In helping the Saints to four wins that week, Maliska went 9-for-15 (.600) with eight RBI and seven runs scored. The St. Laurence…
Baseball | Marist claws way back to .500
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent This season has thus far not been what Marist had expected, but the RedHawks came into this week at .500. Marist was 2-8 after 10 games this season, with three of those first eight losses coming via shutout. But the RedHawks turned things around with a stretch of eight…
Red Stars fall to Spirit for third loss in past four matches
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium. The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four…
Red Stars take aim at NWSL attendance record with Wrigley game
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars are thinking big when it comes to their upcoming game at Wrigley Field. The team is taking aim at the NWSL record for single-game attendance when it hosts Bay FC at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The record is held…
IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders…
Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb…
Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bass fishing state tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’…
So sorry for your loss, Tim. Sad news indeed.
My heart hurts for you Tim, Johanna and Cosmo ❤️❤️❤️ Your Wife, Mother definitely was a beautiful person, with a loving, giving and compassionte heart. I am sorry for your loss, and ours ????,???? I am honored to have known her in my life and will carry her spirit and memories with me, always. I will also be here and there for you and your family Tim. Please keep your heads held high and rely on God’s comfort and graces to help you through this difficult time ????❤️
Sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace ????
Tim, I cannot express how sorry I am.
So sorry for your loss. We will all miss Joan’s smiling face Our prayers for your family at this difficult time
Dear Tim, so very sorry for your loss. Joan was a sweetheart and will ever remain in our hearts. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Our condolences and prayers Tim
We love you brother ????????????
Joan will be missed but never forgotten ❤️
Tim, sending payers to you and your family. My heart aches for all of you.
Tim, my condolences to you and your family. Joan was a wonderful woman. I only met her once, but her kindness was evident. I loved reading her stories. God bless you all. The world lost a good one. May Joan Rest in Peace.
Ohhhhh this makes me so sad…May she rest in eternal peace!!!! Fly high Joanie….love you to the heavens!!!!! Your girls at Byline Bank!!!! ????????????
My sincerest condolences on the passing of your wife. May she rest in peace in God’s loving arms. My prayers for strength during these trying times for you and your family.
A loss for journalism and our community. Sincerest condolences to Tim and family
My condolences to the family …..its a great loss to our community
A loss for journalism and our community. Sincerest condolences to Tim and family
Sorry for your loss Tim, stay strong!
Another lovely soul taken too soon from pancreatic cancer. My heart goes out to her family.
So sad…I thought I recognized her…a fellow Lourdian..graduated 77…Rest in peace…condolences to her family
Donna Artist
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I’m so very sorry, Tim. I’m grateful to have met her.
Another lovely soul taken too soon from pancreatic cancer. My heart goes out to her family.
My deepest condolences. Joan was one of a kind a wonderful person. I can’t believe this. ????????????
“Tim n’ Joan,” it came so easy off the tongue. “Let’s call Tim n’ Joan!” I always thought Tim n’ Joan had a nice ring to it — and it still does, of course. Always will.
Love and mercy to Joan, and to Tim, Cosmo, Johanna and the entire Hadac and Heelan family.
Tim I’m so sorry for your loss. I know she was the love of your life. I wish you peace Sharon Maslona
Sorry for you loss Tim. Joan was a great lady and wrote many great stories. My daughters where sadden when I told them of Joan’s passing.
Tim and family. I am so sorry for your loss. Joan was a kind person and great journalist. We will all miss her. If there’s anything I can do for you please don’t hesitate. I’m keeping you and your family in my prayers my friend. God Bless all of you. Rest In Peace Joan.
My sympathies and prayers to the family.
Tim, Johanna and Mary:
I was saddened to hear of Joan’s passing. We are thinking of you and pray that you have moments of peace and comfort.
Tim and family….How well said that for our community she was the heart of your family business. But what really counts is that she was the heart of a wonderful family who loved her very much. From our family to yours may you find real comfort and encouragement .
Mr. Hadac, I am so sorry for your loss. I have often heard of your wife as a wonderful person. You have my greatest sympathy. Sending love and prayers.
So sorry for your loss, Tim. She was a gifted person. Her faith was her foundation and it came through to everyone who met her. May she rest in peace. God bless you.
I first met Tim and Joan at St. Xavier while and ironically just a few years later at the Southwest News Herald. Looking back, those were great times and would not change them for anything. I will remember Joan in my prayers and you too, Tim. Joan was a very nice person.
May her soul and the soul s of the faithful departed rest in Peace. Prayers for you and your family , Mr. Hadac.
Tim and family. We are so sorry for your loss. God speed to heaven Joan. Please continue to reach out, we are here for you and love you