ROCKY A. BERRIER
Rocky A. Berrier, age 24, of Villa Park, formerly of Lombard, died suddenly on Dec. 20, 2021.
A Visitation will be held at Brust Funeral Home on Monday, Jan. 10, from 3-8 p.m. at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 10 a.m. at Brust Funeral Home, with interment to follow at Arlington Cemetery, 401 E. Lake St., Elmhurst.
For more information, visit www.brustfuneralhome.com or call 888-629-0094.
CAROL L. BIDWILL
Carol L. Bidwill, age 85, of Lombard, formerly of Bensenville, died on December 25, 2021.
She was the loving wife of the late Edwin; loving mother of Sherry (Jay) Herzog of Lombard, and Edward (Sahia) Bidwill of Elkhorn, Wisconsin; fond grandmother of 13: Joe (Michelle) Stranski B.P.D. of Chicago, Mike Stranski of Lombard, Adam Herzog of DeKalb, George (Emily) Stranski of Lemont, Molly Herzog of DeKalb, Dr. Megan (fiancée Kevin Marciniec) Stranski, Psy.D. of Darien, Angel Bidwill of Chicago, and 6 step-grandchildren; great-grandmother of 7. She was the dear sister of Bill (Noreen) Persig of Hanover Park and was preceded in death by two siblings. She was the dear cousin of Barbara Klaska of Florida.
Carol was a homemaker, and she served as an assistant Den Leader with the Cub Scouts, and Troop Leader with the Brownies and Girl Scouts. She was a devoted Catholic, formerly attending Visitation Parish in Elmhurst, and St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Bensenville. She was a current member of Sacred Heart Parish.
Funeral services were held January 3rd, 2022, from Brust Funeral Home, to Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church, 114 S. Elizabeth St., Lombard with Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1400 S Wolf Rd, Hillside.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105; and Catholic Charities c/o Sacred Heart Church, 114 S Elizabeth St, Lombard, IL 60148, are appreciated.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
ALEXANDER GORR SR.
On December 28, 2021, Alexander “Al” or “Butch” Gorr Sr. left this earth surrounded by family. He joined many beloved family members and friends in heaven, but most importantly, Jesus.
Al was born into the loving home of Goldie and Evie (Schuhknecht) Gorr on November 20, 1942. He is survived by the most loving sisters, Bonnie (the late Dusty) Rhodes, Judy (Tony) Pones and Carol (Ralph) Leef (and the late Ray Amerlan). Named after an uncle who survived the Bataan Death March, only to be killed on the ship Arisan Maru, Al became an expert on World War II, something he would share with several of his grandsons one day.
During the Christmas season of 1962, he met Georgene St. Clair at a Sears store, where they were both seasonal help. It was love at first sight. Seven months later they married and within seven years they had five children: Marta (Michael) Gemelli, Jenny (Ken) Martin, Al Jr. (Jennifer), Bonnie (Steve) Flanagan and Heidi (Mike) Schmuldt. He is survived by all five, who will truly, deeply miss him. Joining in their sorrow are his grandchildren Ken, Katie (Dave), Elizabeth (Neil), Rocky, Marissa, Abby, Alex, Leslie, Peter, Allie, Tom, John, Steve and Claire, and two great-grandsons, Dexter and Milo.
Al formerly said goodbye to family he loved including his parents, Georgene’s parents (George and Lorraine St. Clair), his great-grandson Drake Bailey, and more dear friends than we can mention. He leaves behind David Sanders, his close friend for over 65 years.
He held fond memories of his school days at St. Paul Lutheran, Melrose Park, his first church home. His “forever” church home, however, will always be Ashton Bible Church, where he made many friends. We are thankful for the spiritual home he found there. No one told a story like Grandpa Butch, and he had plenty to share, from his years growing up in Melrose Park with purple fuzzy eggs, to his secret car at age 14 (his first of many classic cars). He had stories from his career with Northwest Orient/Flying Tigers Airline as a Ramp Rat and International Salesman extraordinaire; and stories from his years as a policeman, such as working with the Secret Service when President Carter visited, and his time as the first Police Counselor/Liason in Illinois at Addison Trail High School. It was there he impacted many students, including impressing them once by wrestling a kodiak bear at a pep rally. He was Chief of Police in both Addison, Illinois, and Rochelle, Illinois.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
Dad lit up a room with his presence. His silliness was infectious. We will never pop our eyeballs into our mouths for a good washing without thinking of him. After 59 years together, Mom will be especially heartbroken as they were everything to each other.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Lombard Gospel Chapel, 369 North Stewart Avenue, Lombard.
If you wish to make a memorial gift in Al’s honor, the family requests donations be made to Ashton Bible Church, Lombard Gospel Chapel, or Care Net (care-net.org).
HELEN O’CONNOR
Helen O’Connor, née Bear, 83 years old, of Lombard, died on December 30th, 2021.
She was the loving wife of Michael O’Connor Sr. for 53 years; beloved mother to Kathleen (Carl) Popovsky, Michael (Julie) O’Connor Jr., Daniel (Theresalynn) O’Connor; dear grandmother of Liam Popovsky, Owen Popovsky, Caitlin O’Connor, Eden O’Connor, and George O’Connor. Cherished sister to JoAnne (Seymour) Weinberg, Doris (John) Lutkus, and the late Janet Hertel.
Helen loved family events and treasured the time she was able to spend with her grandchildren, often attending any event in which they participated. In her spare time, Helen was a voracious reader, and dedicated patron of the Helen Plum Library in Lombard. A longtime Parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, Helen regularly served as a lector, had been part of the Religious Education Board, and volunteered in many other aspects of the church.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Church, 114 W. Elizabeth Street, Lombard. Interment private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charity organization of your choosing.
Info www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.
