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
Sophia Smith’s brace sinks Red Stars
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Home has not been that sweet lately for the Chicago Red Stars. The team lost its second straight game at SeatGeek Stadium with a 2-0 setback to Portland in front of an announced crowd of 4,443 on April 27. Portland star Sophia Smith scored in the 10th and 26th…
Nazareth Academy celebrates ‘special talent’ J.J. McCarthy in NFL Draft
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Dennis Moran has no doubts that J.J. McCarthy – the former Nazareth Academy quarterback who is now with the Minnesota Vikings – will succeed in the National Football League. Moran was among about 60 or so Nazareth Academy fans, friends and coaches who gathered Thursday night at The Stadium Club…
Brother Rice names Al Perez next soccer coach
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A few new coaches are dotting the area high school athletic scene. One of the more notable hires was Brother Rice bringing Al Perez aboard as the soccer coach. Perez led Chicago Public League power Washington to a Class 2A state championship in 2013, a fourth-place finish in 2015…
Police Council rallies to save ShotSpotter
Spread the love. By Alexis Bocanegra Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com . Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Council members Mark Hamberlin, Al Cacciottolo and Jason Huff have created an online petition to save ShotSpotter. As you may have read in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound back in March, Mayor…
Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited…
Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…
Bridgeview approves auto repair shop
Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…
Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…
Hodgkins toasts village businesses
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap and the Board of Trustees celebrated the village’s businesses at its annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on April 10. Over 100 people gathered at the Hodgkins Administration Center for a hearty breakfast hosted by the village. Representatives from many businesses that are located in or that work…
Pickleball courts coming to Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva There will finally be outdoor pickleball in Palos Park. In a process that went longer than anticipated, the Palos Park Village Council was able give the green light to get a pickleball project started on the Village Green. The council voted April 8 to award the contract to U.S. Tennis…
Neighbors
Rashid calls college demonstrators ‘student heroes’
Spread the love. Rips Israel over “apartheid’ and ‘genocide’ . From staff reports The crisis in Palestine is taking a terrifying turn as the Israeli military is preparing to invade Rafah where more than one million Palestinians have been forced to after their homes in northern Gaza were destroyed, State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (D-21st) said…
Titanic memories haunt Worth Library
Spread the loveBy Kelly White This year marks the 112th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful ship crossing. Bringing the ship back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak, who walked patrons through the history, the lasting impact, and why it…
Spring cleanup day in Bridgeview set for Saturday
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Any Bridgeview resident with clutter to clear will be busy Friday night, May 10. That’s when they will be putting all kinds of things on the parkway as the village prepares for its annual spring cleanup day set for Saturday, May 11. All items must be at the curb by…
Family of man killed in McCook struggling with his absence
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch On what would have been his 37th birthday, the family of Morales Ricardo Lopez gathered at his grave in Evergreen Park Cemetery. Lopez, of Blue Island, was gunned down in McCook early Feb. 17, leaving behind a widow and three children. His family, other relatives and friends gathered at his…
Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics.…
Shoppers welcome back Evergreen Park Farmers Market
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Rain was forecast for the morning of May 2, but nothing could dampen the spirits of customers who dropped by the Evergreen Park Farmers Market. The large crowd that attended were instead greeted with mostly sunny skies. Beth Novotney, director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizen Services that oversees…
Evergreen Park recognizes police for valor
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle The Evergreen Park police have been cited for valor after several key arrests that occurred the past couple of months. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested commendations for the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night. Mayor Kelly Burke and the board applauded the efforts of the force.…
Hickory Hills police bid adieu and say welcome
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam The Hickory Hills Police Department bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Glenn Tienstra and welcomed new Officer Daniel Balzhiser. On a memorable Thursday evening, April 25, city hall was filled with the warmth of community family, friends, officers, and council members, all gathered to joyfully celebrate Officer Balzhiser and respectfully…
Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side…
Cicadas in the park in Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Cicadas are coming and the Village of Palos Park is ready. The village hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on Sunday, May 5, themed, “The Wonder of Trees” at The Center in the Lodge, 12700 Southwest Highway, with featured speaker, Tricia Bethke of The Morton Arboretum who presented, “Cicadas…
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