Obituaries and Passings 2026

Hilda Cruz, 95 of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and more recently Highland Park, Illinois passed away on February 11, 2026 in Highland Park, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Highland Park, Illinois.

Cynthia M. Marcellis, 71 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Hanover Park, Illinois passed away on February 10, 2026 in St. Charles, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in St Charles, Illinois.

Cindy Lu Hill, 68 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Aurora, Illinois passed away on February 10, 2026 in Aurora, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Aurora, Illinois.

Debra Lynn Anderson, 65 of Elgin, Illinois and more recently Hawthorn Woods, Illinois passed away on February 10, 2026 in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

Barbara Jeanne Kottke, 94 of Peoria, Illinois and more recently Hawthorn Woods, Illinois passed away on February 9, 2026 in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois.

Kuo Ching Chen, 85 of Taiwan and more recently Vernon Hills, Illinois passed away on February 6, 2026 in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Bertha Alicia Lopez-Garcia, 72 of Mexico and more recently Carpentersville, Illinois passed away on February 6, 2026 in Elgin, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Elgin, Illinois.

Stephen Michael Sephus, 75 of McComb, Mississippi passed away on November 18, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Chicago, Illinois.

Christopher S. Armstrong, 64 of Berwyn, Illinois and more recently Stickney, Illinois passed away on February 4, 2026 in Maywood, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Maywood, Illinois.

Kenneth Lamont White, 65 of Chicago, Illinois passed away on February 4, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Chicago, Illinois.

Donald Johansen, 77 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Des Plaines, Illinois passed away on February 4, 2026 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Joan Irma Horowitz, 82 of Brooklyn, New York and more recently Deerfield, Illinois passed away on February 4, 2026 in Deerfield, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Deerfield, Illinois.

Karen Kilstrom Clark, 81 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Inverness, Illinois passed away on February 3, 2026 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Josephine Anne Giblin, 76 of Chicago, Illinois passed and more recently Oak Lawn passed away on February 1, 2026 in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

David Allen Silvestri, 61 of Des Plaines, Illinois and more recently Schaumburg, Illinois passed away on January 31, 2026 in Glendale Heights, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Glendale Heights, Illinois.

Peola Alleyne, 68 of Trinidad and Tobago and more recently Elgin, Illinois passed away on January 27, 2026 in Elgin, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Elgin, Illinois.

Dean Dee Dowdy, 88 of Philadelphia, Mississippi and more recently Gurnee, Illinois passed away on January 25, 2026 in Barrington, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Barrington, Illinois.

Jason LaVerne Metcalf, 52 of LaPorte, Indiana, passed away on January 21, 2026 in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

Karen Ann Pelletier passed away peacefully at her home in McHenry, Illinois, on January 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving husband and family. She was 87 years old. Karen was born on April 29, 1938, in Elgin, Illinois, to the late Carl A. Irps and Elaine (Henning) Irps. While attending junior high school, she met the love of her life, Donald E. Pelletier. They were married on September 1, 1956, beginning a remarkable journey together that spanned nearly 70 years of marriage and 76 years side by side. Karen and her parents were longtime members of Elgin Turner Hall, where they participated in many events, including the beloved Friday Fish Fry. A gifted musician, Karen played bassoon in school and performed with the Elgin Civic Symphony Orchestra. She was also an accomplished organist and occasionally performed alongside Don, who played drums, at local night clubs. Karen cherished summers spent camping with her family at Timber Lake and later at Fish Lake Beach near the Chain O’ Lakes. She even served as a lifeguard for 7 years during that time. She had a passion for antiquing and earned a certificate in Interior Design. Karen was also a dedicated and hardworking member of the Elgin Junior Women’s Club. Faith was central to her life, and she and her family were deeply involved in the Church Of The Redeemer Episcopal Church in Elgin. Karen and Don retired in 1997 and relocated to South Padre Island, Texas, where they enjoyed 24 years of warm weather before returning to Northern Illinois. During their time in Texas, Karen was actively involved in square dancing with Don and found great joy in her frequent Zumba classes. Together, Karen and Don shared a love of travel, embarking on 31 cruises to destinations around the world and logging more than 40,000 miles across the United States in their motorhomes. Amongst their favorite journeys was a trip by train to visit Yellowstone Park. Karen is survived by her devoted husband, Don; her son Brent (Mary) Pelletier of Denton, Texas; her son Todd (Giuliana) Pelletier of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and her daughter Megan Pelletier (Mark) of Lakemoor, Illinois. She was a proud grandmother to Jenny (Brian) Miller, Brandon (Heather) Pelletier, Chelsea (Daniel) Watts, Amanda (Aaron) Jansen, and Mason (Alexandria) Seifert, and a cherished great-grandmother to Austin, Elijah, Avery, Micah, Eleanor, and Archie. She is now reunited in Heaven with her beloved daughter, Pamela Kay. A celebration of Karen’s life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made in her honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the charity of one’s choice..

Bruce Kilmer Regione, 74 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently McHenry, Illinois passed away on January 23, 2026 in Barrington, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Barrington, Illinois.

James Peter Driscoll, 67 of Bronx, New York and more recently Schaumburg, Illinois passed away on January 22, 2026 in Itasca, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Itasca, Illinois.

John L. Havlovic, 83 passed away on January 21, 2026 in Barrington, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Barrington, Illinois.

Denise Marie Banek, 66 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Naperville, Illinois passed away on January 19, 2026 in Naperville, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Naperville, Illinois.

Lewis Charles Lentz, 80 of Bay San Diego, California and more recently Barrington, Illinois passed away on January 18, 2026 in Barrington, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Barrington, Illinois.

Ralph Newell, 74 of Bay Springs, Mississippi and more recently Riverdale, Illinois passed away on January 17, 2026 in Riverdale, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Riverdale, Illinois.

Grace M. Antonydoss, 87 of India and more recently Long Grove, Illinois passed away on January 17, 2026 in Glenview, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Glenview, Illinois.

Adrienne M. Tarr, 70 of Hungary and more recently Palatine, Illinois passed away on January 17, 2026 in Palatine, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Northbrook, Illinois.

Carl Michael Nelson, 76 of San Antonio, Texas  and more recently Palatine, Illinois passed away on January 14, 2026 in Palatine, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Palatine, Illinois.

Yuriy Shevchuk, 75 of Ukraine and more recently Streamwood, Illinois passed away on January 15, 2026 in Northbrook, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Northbrook, Illinois.

Judith Ann Anderson, 85 of Cairo, Illinois  and more recently Elgin, Illinois passed away on

January 5, 2026 in Elgin, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Elgin, Illinois.

Mark Alan Kromer, 48 of Grove City, Pennsylvania  and more recently Belvidere, Illinois passed away on January 11, 2026 in Belvidere, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Belvidere, Illinois.

Phyllis M. Price, 94 of Detroit, Michigan  and more recently Elmhurst, Illinois passed away on January 11, 2026 in Elmhurst, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Theresa K. Abundiz, 55 of New York and more recently Hoffman Estates, Illinois passed away on January 11, 2026 in Winfield, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Winfield, Illinois.

Robert Anthony Galvan, 42 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Joliet, Illinois passed away on January 10, 2026 in Joliet, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Joliet, Illinois.

Lauren Burton, 77 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Skokie, Illinois passed away on January 7, 2026 in Skokie, Illinois. Laurie treasured the Love of his dogs, 2 cats over the years, the outdoors, his friends, neighbors – their children & pets, social and business contacts, skiing, Rock N’ Roll & much more. He passed away peacefully at home in the presence of his wife with love & grace. He is survived by his Wife of 26 yrs (31 together) Laurie Gresham, his Sister (Wendy Hopf) & Nephews (Scott, Isaac). The family requests patience and consideration while planning a Celebration of Laurie’s life in warmer months.

John Charles Havlink, 75 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Vienna, Illinois passed away on January 7, 2026 in Naperville, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Naperville, Illinois.

Lucyna J. Milkowski, 67 of Poland and more recently Mt. Prospect, Illinois passed away on January 6, 2026 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Raymond Thomas Topczewski, 93 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Cary, Illinois passed away on January 4, 2026 in Cary, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Cary, Illinois.

Peggy Watkins, 72 of Lincoln, Illinois and more recently Crystal Lake, Illinois passed away on January 3, 2026 in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Benno Wolf Holtz, born April 30, 1948, in Denmark, passed away on January 2, 2026, at the age of 77. A true Taurus, he embodied every bit of that sign’s grounded strength, loyalty, and quiet determination. That same quiet power held him through a long and unforgiving battle with cancer—a journey he met with a courage so deep it seemed to rise from the very center of him. Even as the road grew harder, he never surrendered his spirit. He moved through each day with a stubborn, beautiful will to stay present, to love, to endure. His resilience was its own kind of grace, a testament to the man he was. His life began in Denmark, continued through Argentina, and ultimately found its home in the United States when he immigrated in 1957. He became a proud American citizen in 1974. Throughout his life, he built a reputation for hard work, resilience, and craftsmanship. Whether working as a carpenter, serving with Chicago Streets and Sanitation, or later with Michigan City Streets and Sanitation, he approached every job with precision, pride, and the belief that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right. He could fix anything—and he passed that gift on to his children. In his younger years, he married his high school sweetheart, Renate Saltis, with whom he shared two daughters, Monika and Heidi. He later remarried and had two more children, Erica and Brian. May Benno be in heaven connecting with his son. Later in life, he found enduring companionship with Christine Hootman, his spouse and partner in life. He carried a light, unmistakable sense of humor and a quirky habit that became one of his most endearing trademarks: whistling like a canary or making little melodies—DooBaDooBaDooBa DeeBaDoo, whenever he was thinking, cooking, shopping, or simply moving through the day. Those sounds were the quiet soundtrack of his presence. Fishing was his favorite pastime, a place where he found peace, patience, and joy. It’s easy to imagine that’s exactly what he’s doing now. Oh, and did we mention- he’s a Packer’s fan and is likely watching the Bear/Packers game at this very moment having the last laugh.

Joseph Francis Helm, 98 of Washington D.C., and more recently Huntley, Illinois passed away on January 1, 2026 in Barrington, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Barrington, Illinois.

Bennie David Neal, 67 of Springfield, Minnesota and more recently Morris, Illinois passed away on January 1, 2026 in Morris, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Barrington, Illinois.

James Dennis Ghisolf, 78 of Chicago, Illinois and more recently Long Grove, Illinois passed away on January 3, 2026 in Libertyville, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Libertyville, Illinois.

Miguel Lardes Arenas, 46 of Des Plaines Illinois passed away on January 4, 2026 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Arrangements by Journey Cremations in Des Plaines, Illinois.

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