DONALD “ANDY” ANDRASCO

Donald C. “Andy” Andrasco, 96, of Chicago Ridge, passed away.

He was an Army veteran of World War II.

He was the beloved husband of the late Edith (nee Lewis). Loving dad of Donna and the late David (Patty) Andrasco and Scotty Andrasco. Cherished grandfather of Colleen (Lamont Griffin), Jessica (Ryan Kocanda), Michael, and Christopher Andrasco. Great-grandfather of Zachary Andrasco. Dearest brother of the late Jean Murphy and Patricia Manru. Dear brother-in-law to Fred (Carla) Lewis and George (Bernadette) Lewis; fond uncle of Tim, Kathi, and Andrew Lewis.

Family and friends will gather for visitation on Wednesday, March 6, at 8:30 a.m. until time of Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. at the Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home, 11028 Southwest Hwy., Palos Hills. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

JANICE IRENE BERLONGIERI

Janice Irene Berlongieri (nee Heitzman), age 82, lifelong resident of Roseland on the south side of Chicago and Richton Park, passed away peacefully, February 29.

Beloved daughter of the late Leonard and Irene Heitzman (Tulis); devoted wife of the late Anthony J. Berlongieri Sr.; loving mother of Jean (Daniel) Young, Joseph Berlongieri (Traci DeBoer), James (Stacy) Berlongieri, Anthony J. Berlongieri Jr., and Jennifer Berlongieri (Michael Piwnicki); cherished grandmother of Matthew Harvey (Nicole Carmichael), Stephanie Harvey, late Brandi Harvey, Savannah Berlongieri, Giovanni Berlongieri, Jakob Berlongieri, and Chloe Berlongieri and great-grandmother of Eli, Audrey, Olivia, Weston, and Mason; dear sister of Patricia (late Thomas ) Webster and Robert (Beverly) Heitzman; Aunt and friend to many, also survived by Keith Harvey and family.

Janice, will always be remembered for her radiant glow, outgoing personality, and strong will to persevere. She was a fighter, a true warrior that overcame many obstacles in her life. She absolutely adored her grandchildren and cherished every moment with her family. Mom, grandma, great grandma, your legacy will continue. We LOVE You…. “THIS MUCH……………………………..!”

Services were held at Central Chapel 6158 S. Central, Chicago, where family and friends gathered on March 7. Chapel Prayer were held March 8 at the funeral home, Mass of Christian Burial followed at St. Symphorosa Church, 6135 S. Austin Ave. Chicago. Burial was private for the immediate family, where she was laid to rest with her late husband Anthony at Assumption Cemetery in Glenwood. Please visit JANICE BERLONGIERI BOOK OF MEMORIES. To express your thoughts or memories in the online guest book, visit www.chapelc.com or www.facebook.com/centralchapel. Info., 773 581 9000.

PAULA A. BURNS

Paula A. Burns, age 62, passed after a short battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Beloved daughter of Kevin J. and the late Alberta Burns; dear sister of Tim (Marybeth) Burns; loving aunt of Madeline and Rebecca.

Paula was a talented Vocalist, Musician and Actress.

All services for Paula will be private. Arrangements entrusted to Richard-Midway Funeral Home, for more information, please call 773-767-1840.

CHARLES D. CHANDLER

Charles D. Chandler, age 57, of Lansing, passed away February 18.

He was the loving son of the late Curtis and Dolores (Bancherau) Chandler; dearest brother of the late Corky Chandler and late Dennis Bancherau. James “Bernie” Neidhardt, and Joseph “Scott” Jordan (biggest fan and confidant). Fond uncle and cousin of many.

Visitation was held March 1 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 West Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation was held March 2 at the funeral home until time of Celebration of Life Service. Interment Mt. Auburn Memorial Park. Condolences may be sent to Charles’ family on his personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

VIRGINIA L. COLE

Virginia L. “Jenny” Cole (nee Griffith) age 93, long time resident of Chicago, Clearing community, passed away at home February 19.

Beloved wife of the late Howard E. Cole; loving mother of Jeffery (Mary) Mowery, Thomas (Cynthia) Mowery and Pamela Cole; dearest grandmother of Michael (Maureen) Birks, James (Rebecca), Katherine, Aaron, Joseph (Mackenzie), Daniel (Madeline), Adam (Angela), Sara, Hannah, Robert (Julia) and Charles (Margaret) Mowery; great grandmother of Neil, Zachary, Jozie, Amelia, Lydia Mowery and Raelynn, Vicki, Michelle, Lilli and Howie Birks; dear sister of the late Billie Jean Kiemele and the late Gladys Griffith.

Visitation was held February 27 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 West Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation was held February 28 at the funeral home until time of Celebration of Life Service with Rev. Gary Cox officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Calvary Lutheran Church, 6149 South Kenneth Avenue, Chicago, IL. 60629, would be appreciated. Condolences may be sent to Virginia’s family on her personal tribute website at www.foranfuneralhome.com.

DR. PARAKRAMA DE SILVA

Dr. Parakrama de Silva passed away February 9, after a month-long battle with septic then hemorrhagic shock. In the end it was food aspiration that did him in, but he did “not go gentle into that good night.”

He was born in Matara, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to E. L. Sugathadasa de Silva and Wimala Sahabandu. He is survived by siblings Mali, Hemakantha, and Pushpa. His brother Susantha passed away some years ago. When he was young, his nickname was Tarzan, the original reasons for this are now unclear. He graduated from Mahinda College in Galle, Sri Lanka and won a rare scholarship to study medicine in Japan where he earned his doctorate from the University of Hiroshima despite not speaking Japanese two months before starting medical school. As a substitute teacher in an English language school for Japanese he met and fell in love with Chizuko Shimizu. Without permission from her family to wed, they eloped to the USA where the Rotary Club of Glens Falls NY sponsored him to do his internship and first residency in the area. In Glens Falls his first and smartest son, Dr. Rohan Tissa de Silva was born in 1960. The younger Dr. de Silva also writes the family obituaries.

Dr. de Silva did a second residency in Ottawa Canada, where second son Ajit Gemenu, and daughter Kumari Rupika were born. Specializing in cardiology, he earned an academic appointment at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in 1968, raising his first family in Chicago from where he never moved. Academic cardiology professor by day, he moonlighted at the Jackson Park hospital emergency room two nights a week. He shifted to private practice in the 1970s though he kept an academic appointment with Rush Presb St. Luke. On staff at Holy Cross Hospital where he was Chief of Medicine, Little Company of Mary, Christ Hospital, Central Community Hospital, he also volunteered at Provident hospital. In his long career he saved thousands of lives. When he wasn’t saving lives, he visited patients in rehab facilities, nursing homes, and he often attended patients’ funerals.

The untimely death of his first wife in 1985 fractured his world. There was no obvious cause of death, but she perished suddenly at age 50 like many atomic bomb survivors. He recovered by working even harder, saving more lives, and found love again marrying Michiko Kobayashi in 1993. That marriage gave him a stepson, Tommy and another son, Tomell. Michiko, an immensely forgiving person, became friends with the deceased after their divorce. Tomell was at his father’s side during the final painful weeks of his life.

His third marriage to Zaraida “Kathy” Ortiz brought Dr. de Silva his final stepson, Kazuto Brian Ortiz. Kazuto and his wife Ruwenna dutifully cared for “Uncle Para” in his retirement years, complicated by recovery from open heart surgery, then two strokes. In this final chapter of his life, Dr. de Silva became a doting grandfather to their daughter Cassandra, whom he loved more than anyone else in the world.

Survivors include Dr. Maria M. Ritzema, wife of the eldest son Rohan; Rand Havener, partner of daughter Kumari; nephews and nieces Lucky, Rupini, Pramodini, Indira, Niroshini, Udula, Shiamal, Vipuli, Dasuni, and Sita. He was preceded in death by nephew Isuru.

Memorial services are a private family-only Buddhist ritual. In lieu of flowers, please consider modest donations in memory of Dr. de Silva to the American Heart Association or to the Blue Lotus Temple in Woodstock, Illinois.

LARRY A. ELITZER

Larry A. Elitzer beloved husband of Sharon (nee Hansen); loving father of Larry (Marla) Elitzer, Tammy Elitzer, Eric (Melody) Elitzer, Dawn Kurtenbach and Joy Elitzer; dearest grandfather of 12 and great grandfather of 4. Larry was preceded in death by his 5 brothers and sister. Dear uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held March 3 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation was held March 4 at the funeral home followed by A Service in Celebration of Larry’s life. Procession from the funeral home to Evergreen Cemetery where Larry was laid to rest.

LINDA J. KRUTILLA

Linda J. Krutilla, 70, from Oak Lawn, passed away on February 16, 2024.

She was the loving mother of Tracy (Jose), Brian (Colleen), Scott (Lisa) and Sean (Jessica). Proud daughter of the late Grace Anders and the late Michael Krutilla. Caring grandmother of Jason, Samantha, Luke, Owen, Morgan, Wesley, Elliot and Charlotte. Dearest great-grandmother of Zachary. Dear sister of Darlene, the late Kuruvilla Michael, the late David, Tom, Steve and Joe.

Linda will be missed by all who knew her notably co-workers and friends.

A celebration of life will be held by the family.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Damar-Kaminski Funeral Home & Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Avenue, Justice.

PATRICIA B. MINARIK

Patricia B. Minarik (nee Ziffersky), passed away peacefully at home February 28, surrounded by her family.

She was the beloved wife for 50 years to the late Frank Minarik; loving mother of Ellen (Paul) Sarna, Pam (Kurt) Weissenhofer and Bonnie (Owen) McKinney; cherished Nana of Katie, Lauren (Kevin), Chris, Taylor (John), Jonathon, Jessica (fiancé Jim) Rylie and Elli; proud great grandmother of Eli, Hudson, Ellie, Hallie, Logan, Evelyn, Luca, Drago and Mali. Patricia will be missed by her siblings, William Ziffersky, Paulette (Myron) Bennett, Linda (Tony) Jania and their families and her many close family and friends.

Visitation was held March 4 at Foran Funeral Home, 7300 W. Archer Ave. (55th street just west of Harlem). Visitation was held March 5 at the funeral home until time of Celebration of Life Service. Procession from the funeral home to St. Mary Cemetery where Patricia was laid to rest next to her husband.

ANTOINETTE M. “TONI” SOVERINO

Antoinette M. “Toni” Soverino (nee Viola).

Beloved wife of 65 years to Anthony; loving mother of Frank (Shari), Maria (Leonard) Orlowski and Rose (Tony) Paul; dear nonnie of Anthony (Dana), Frankie, Marissa (Tony), Brandon, Brianna, Anthony and Gianna; great nonnie of Gabriella, Luca and Alessia; dear sister of Jerry (late Carrie) Viola, late Mary (late Sam) Carcione, late Angie (late Joe) Conte, late Sam (late Joann) Viola and the late Carmella “Dee Dee” (Vito) Lonero; dear sister in law of the late Joseph (late Gina) Soverino. Fond aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Visitation was held February 25 at the Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 Archer Ave. (corner of Lorel). Funeral was held February 26 at the funeral home and processing to St. Daniel the Prophet Church for mass. Interment Mt. Carmel Cemetery. For more information, please call 773-767-1840.

MARGERY DAMM

Margery Damm, former Regional columnist

Margery Susan Damm (née Skeel), 90, a 65-year resident of Palos Heights, passed away February 22, 2024.

Margery wrote a column called Subdivision Socials and manned the office front desk on Saturdays when she worked for the Regional when her children were young.

Margery was the beloved wife of the late Ronald Damm. Mother to Karl Damm (Mimi), Susan (Michael) Daugherty, and Nancy (Mark) Badger. Adored grandmother of Josiah Damm (Tabitha Groves), Chris Damm (Jessica Bruhn), Faith Damm (Joseph Debenny), Elizabeth Daugherty, Sam Daugherty (Layne), Luke Daugherty, Rachel Daugherty, Steve Badger (Cara), and Amy Maciejewski (Brandon). Great grandmother of four.

She was a long-serving volunteer at the Pass it On Thrift Store, and was a member of the Palos Heights Friends of the Library, and Newborns in Need.

The family would appreciate memorials in her honor to be sent to Palos Heights Friends of the Library or Mosaic, 110 Water Street Ste. 2, Pontiac IL 61764 where her granddaughter resides.