Conley Funeral Home, 116 W Pierce Street, Elburn, IL (2026)

03/12/2026

Obituary for
JEFFREY L WORLAND

Services will be held at a later date.

Jeffrey L. Worland, age 71, of Sycamore, formerly of Aurora, IL and Jamestown, NY, passed away surrounded by the love and prayers of his family, Monday, March 9, 2026.

He was born on July 6, 1954, to proud and loving parents, James and Joyce Worland.

Jeff grew up in Aurora and attended local schools. He graduated from East Aurora High School with the class of 1972. He continued his education at the College of DuPage.

Jeff met the love of his life, Bonnie Berens, at a friend’s party and the celebrations continued to the altar when they were united in marriage on May 5, 1979, in Virgil, IL. They began their new life together in a apartment above the country store in Virgil before buying a farm on Ramm Rd. Horses, chickens, cats, dogs, racoons and more, all shared the farm, but unfortunately not the chores. When they weren’t caring for the land and various menagerie, Jeff was a member of the Kane County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol.

In 1997, Jeff, Bonnie and their one-year-old son, Brett, moved to Jamestown, NY, where Jeff worked at Jamestown Metal Products doing similar work he had done for 30 years at St. Charles Kitchens.

Jeff loved to fish for Muskie, Walleye and more in Michigan, but never went as often as he wanted. Rod and Gun Club took some of his time, but he saved the best for his family. His dedication to his job and family left little time for anything else, and for Jeff, that was just fine. A man of few words, Jeff could convey paragraphs with a look and those who were lucky enough to meet him, knew they had a friend for life.

Jeff leaves his loving wife of 46 years, Bonnie Worland; his son Brett (Julie) Worland; six siblings: Valerie (Andres) Velazquez, James (Georgia) Worland, Jay Worland, Julie Worland, Joel Worland and Joyce (Carlos) Martinez; many nieces, nephews and a family of friends.

He is reunited with his parents, James and Joyce Worland, who preceded him in death.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Tributes and memories may be shared on the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

03/11/2026

Life Story and Service Details For
DYLAN ROCCO PADULA

Dylan Rocco Padula, age 24, of Elburn, passed away into the peaceful paths of eternity, Monday, March 9, 2026. Gone without being able to say goodbye, his memories are left as his legacy, a balm to wounded hearts of all who miss him.

He was born on December 21, 2001, to loving parents, Joseph and Jennifer Padula.

Dylan grew up in Elburn and attended local schools. Frustrated with the education system, he took it upon himself to obtain his GED faster than if he had taken the traditional path to graduation.

Dylan had a spirit that was one part “angelic”, always looking to help others, and the other “mischief” that reveled in laughter, good times and maybe even a little mayhem. He was dedicated to his family and friends, had an intellect that was as sharp as his wit and shared just as freely. Dylan’s interests were varied, balancing his packed closet full of his shoe collection, leaning towards Jordan and Steph Curry as well as designer clothes, with his love of sports where football, basketball, baseball combined with his black belt in Taekwondo, skateboarding and fishing anywhere where he could drop a line. When he wasn’t playing his favorite sports, Dylan cheered them on, rooting loudly and proudly for the Pittsburg Steelers, Chicago Bulls and White Sox with a full card of UFC to boot. Watching games on the television often segued into playing them. Dylan was often found pouring all his attention into Apex and Arc Raiders. Dylan made his mark on everything he did and everyone he met. He will never be forgotten.

He is survived by his parents, Joseph and Jennifer Padula; his brother, Anthony Padula; maternal grandparents, Joann and Robert Birkmann; paternal grandparents, Anthony and Rita Padula; several aunts, uncles, cousins and a circle of friends who will always remember him with a smile.

Friends and family may come and celebrate their favorite memories of Dylan from 3-7 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. The family encourages everyone to bring a personal letter or photo for Dylan to be tucked in with him. Throughout visitation, memories can be shared as well. Private family interment will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Dylan’s name to benefit, Lighthouse Recovery. Checks may be made to the “Dylan R. Padula Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

03/09/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
EUGENE "GENE" M. CAPES

Eugene “Gene” M. Capes, 86, of Elburn, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Born in Aurora on September 17, 1939, to parents, C. Sterling and Lucile M. Capes, Gene was a lifelong resident of Elburn.

Gene was a 1957 graduate of Elburn High School. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study agriculture and was a proud member of the Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. He left UIUC early to return home to work with his father and brothers on the Capes Bros family farm north of Elburn. On his 21st birthday, he married the love of his life, Joanne Funk, together for 44 years until her passing in 2004. He worked in farming for 30 years growing corn and soybeans, raising cattle with his brothers and then sheep with his children for 4-H. He began a second career in 1985 and worked for 20 years until his retirement as an inspector with the Elgin Sweeper Company in South Elgin. Through Gene’s love of the outdoors, he always looked forward to a good game of golf and fishing in Northern Wisconsin and his Canada trips to Uchi Lake.

He is survived by his children: Gene (Carrie) Capes II of Maple Park, IL, Geoff (Jonathan Saw) Capes of New York, NY, Geordan (Tim England) Capes of Chicago, IL, and Jenn (Chris) Rosati of Elburn, IL; and his grandchildren: Riley (Meghan) Capes, Max Capes, Grace Rosati, Rocco Rosati, and Sophia Rosati.

He was preceded in death by his parents, C. Sterling and Lucile M. Capes; his beloved wife, Joanne F. Capes; and his daughter, Meredith Leanne Capes.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10a.m. to 12p.m. at Conley Funeral Home at 116 W. Pierce Street, Elburn, IL 60119. A funeral service will immediately follow the visitation at 12p.m. also at Conley Funeral Home. Interment will follow the service at Blackberry Twp. Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Gene’s name to VSW (http://VSW-IL.org/donate) supporting adults with disabilities in the Fox Valley area or Northern Illinois Food Bank (https://solvehungertoday.org/donate) helping neighbors with access to nutritious food.

03/04/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
LAVERNE R. WEILAND

LaVerne R. Weiland, age 89, of Elburn, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by the love and prayers of his family in the early morning hours of Monday, March 2, 2026.

He was born on July 26, 1936, to loving parents, John and Martha Weiland.

LaVerne grew up on the family farm in Sandwich, IL, for a time and attended local schools. The family moved to Sugar Grove where they continued to farm while LaVerne and his brothers caused as much mischief as they could get away with. He graduated from Elburn High School with the class of 1955.

LaVerne met Josephine Hanson in 1956 at a Little 8 Tournament at the Genoa High School. It was love at first sight that night and on October 26, 1957, they were wed at S.S. Peter & Paul Church, Virgil.
They first made their home in West Chicago in an upstairs apartment at Bill & Arlene Patterman’s. Five years later, they moved to Virgil and, through the ensuing years, moved from farm to farm until LaVerne built his bride their first home on Main Street Road, Elburn. In 1972, they built the present family home on Green Road, Elburn.

LaVerne was a Mason until 1968 before entering into a partnership with Bill Hanson, Hanson Excavating. If you were to point out how many construction sites they worked on, you would spend all day and never come close to finishing. After 32 years of digging, LaVerne handed in his keys and entered retirement in 2000.
LaVerne and Josephine travelled to Jamaica, but he reserved some time for himself and “the guys” when they left on their Canadian fishing trips. He bested the house many times on his trips to Vegas and other gambling hot spots. LaVerne often came home with more than he brought, along with the biggest smile. Every morning you could find him amongst his friends, having breakfast, drinking coffee and solving all the world’s problems. When his eyesight started to fail, there was a long line of people who made sure he never missed an opportunity to rub elbows, share stories and tell tales around the table. LaVerne played cards with many groups, and Friday nights brought more friends around the dinner table.

LaVerne may not have been able to drive, but he made it to more places than most and enjoyed being a social butterfly. Three things were always present, a strong handshake, a quick sense of humor and a smile that found its counterpart in everyone he met.

LaVerne leaves his four children: Dan (Karen) Weiland, Laura (Billy) Larson, Brenda Barsic and Valerie Boughton; 10 grandchildren: Craig (Vanessa) Weiland, Matthew Weiland, Michelle (Ryan) Novak, Kaitlyn Barsic, Kaley Barsic, Drake Boughton, Siara Boughton, Logan Boughton and Rylen Boughton; 4 great-grandchildren: Sydney Novak, Kevin Novak, Tenley Weiland and Walter Crabtree; two brothers: Jim Weiland and Lenny (Judy) Weiland; one sister, Arlene Pattermann; many nieces, nephews, cousins and countryside of friends.

He now joins his parents, John and Martha Weiland, his wife Josephine Weiland; a brother John (Alice) Weiland, a brother-in-law, Bill Pattermann, a sister-in-law, Clareen Weiland and one granddaughter Kelsey Barsic who preceded him in death.

LaVerne's family will be hosting a celebration of life which will be held at Elburn Lions Park, 500 Filmore St., Elburn, IL, Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 4-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in LaVerne’s name. Checks may be made to the “LaVerne R. Weiland Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

03/03/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
KAROLA DJUROVICH

Karola Djurovich, 99, of Des Plaines, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 27, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Donaustauf, Germany on March 24, 1926, to parents Paul and Anna Schmid.

Karola grew up in Munich, Germany where she attended local schools and graduated from high school.

While still in Germany Karola would meet her future husband, Bojica Djurovich, a Serbian man from Yugoslavia. The two would quickly hit it off and were married on April 17, 1947, in Munich. Before long Bojica was trying to convince Karola that moving to America was in their best interest. She wasn’t immediately sold on the idea, but after a lengthy boat ride, she fell immediately in love with America as soon as her feet touched American soil.

For over 25 years Karola worked in electrical engineering as an administrative assistant. She loved her work and was cherished by all of her coworkers for her warm and caring nature.

Karola was an active member of the MaineStreamers social group out of Maine Township in the Des Plaines area. She always looked forward to going on trips with her friends as well as dining at a variety of local and out-of-town eateries.

Karola dearly missed and loved her dog, Stoney, an Australian Terrier. One can hope that they have been reunited once again. She loved nothing more than to spend her days surrounded by her family and close friends. She was an avid traveler and found new friends wherever she went. Anyone who knew Karola well, knew where to find her on Saturday nights at 7:00pm, she undoubtedly was camped out in front of her television watching Lawrence Welk. He was her favorite TV personality of all time. She was sad to see the show end after closely admiring Lawrence for multiple decades. Karola was a fiercely loving and compassionate soul who prided herself on her close relationships with everyone who surrounded her. Her family and friends feel the void today as their worlds feel a little more dim without her brilliant shine.

Karola is survived by her grandchildren: Victor (Marlene Ruiz) Osborne and Rhonda Osborne; her great grandchildren: Nicholas (Samantha) Osborne, Dillon Osborn, Jordan Kuti, and Jaelynn Kuti; and her dear friend, Frank Smetak.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Anna Schmid; her husband, Bojica Djurovich; and her son, Daniel Djurovich.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 12pm at Prairie Cemetery on Crane Road in St. Charles.

Memorials may be mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

03/02/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
LEON FRANK PETIT

Leon Frank Petit of Euless, TX, and Virgil, IL, passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in Burleson, TX. His body gave out before his spirit for living did, following a long battle with multiple myeloma and a fall he simply couldn’t bounce back from.

Leon was born October 14, 1944, to Helen Sauber Petit and Frank Michael Petit in Aurora, IL. He was the second of eight children and was raised on the family farm in Virgil, IL. Growing up in a small farm town, the values of faith, community, frugality and hard work were instilled in him from birth. He attended SS Peter and Paul School in Virgil followed by high school at Marmion Military Academy in Aurora, IL. He graduated in 1963 and enlisted in the Army with his cousin, Clete Zang, where they served as members of the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Following their discharge from the Army in 1966, Leon and Clete were hired by American Airlines. Leon worked as part of the ground crew at O’Hare airport and briefly transferred with American to Tulsa, OK, where he worked while pursuing his private pilot and instrument/commercial instructor licenses at the Spartan School of Aviation.

Leon married Colette Louise DePauw in 1971 in Geneva, IL, and they had three children together – Brian David Matthew Petit, Sarah Petit Hlusak (Christopher Hlusak) and Nicholas Michael Petit (Kimberly Carpenter). After Nicholas was born, he pursued a position as a dispatcher with American and was relocated to Dallas, TX, where he worked until his retirement in 2014.

He loved his 50-year career with American Airlines and his work ethic, hustle and preference to trade for third shift made him popular among many of his colleagues. As the ops coordinator on the overnight shift, Leon’s commitment to figuring things out made it possible for countless passengers to get to their destinations as planned, completely unaware of the juggling act Leon was doing behind the scenes to address weather and equipment issues.
Leon was able to take Colette and his kids on flights using his employee benefits, so they were able to enjoy vacations to far-flung places back when flying was a luxury for most and you could get a seat on standby. Germany became a place Leon and the family visited often, as he struck up a conversation with a plumber fixing something at his hotel and he and Edgar became lifelong friends. His ability to strike up a conversation with anyone he met was simply part of who he was, thanks to his small town roots.
Farming and flying were very much in his blood and what he was happiest doing in his spare time. When he wasn’t dispatching planes in Dallas, he spent many years working on the family farm in Illinois. He passed on his love for farming to his sons, Brian and Nicholas.

Leon also owned a Cessna 150 two-seater airplane and found every opportunity to take it up, whether it was to buzz the house in Virgil or fly up to Minneapolis to visit his granddaughters and complete an endless array of fix-it projects for Sarah.

Leon was a proud member of the American Legion, the National Rifle Association (with multiple belt buckles to prove it) and the clean your plate club. Food expiration dates meant nothing to Leon and there was often something on his face that he was “saving for later.” After his retirement from American, which he endlessly regretted, he joined the Halton City Rifle & Pistol Club in Texas where he spent many hours target shooting, shooting the breeze, volunteering as a range officer and helping maintain the facility.
Leon amassed a small arsenal during his retirement and was prepared to ensure the safety of everyone around him. He was also a passionate reader of history and his home was full of hundreds of non-fiction books and every single magazine he ever received.

Leon will be remembered for his humor, generosity to others, frugality for self, work ethic and passion for his beliefs – religious and political. He held a fervent love for God, Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his faith was nurtured at St. Benedict Parish in Fort Worth, where Leon regularly celebrated Latin Mass. He died holding his rosary and ensuring he was right with God.

Leon is survived by his wife, Colette; his sons: Brian Petit and Nicholas (Kimberly) Petit; his daughter, Sarah (Christopher) Petit Hlusak; and his grandchildren: Anna (20), Alison (19), Claire (13) and Harrison (12).

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother David.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 4, at Holy Angels Church in Aurora at 9 a.m. followed by a Latin funeral mass at 10 a.m. He will be laid to rest in SS Peter & Paul Cemetery in Virgil, IL, following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leon’s name to Marmion in Aurora, IL, at www.marmion.org/support-marmion.

02/20/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
MERRILEE KAY MORGAN

Merrilee Kay Morgan, 51, of Genoa, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 15, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Elgin on August 6, 1974, to loving parents, Johnny and Merrilee Johnston (Mason).

Merrilee Kay was raised in the Burlington area on a grain farm working alongside her parents and three older sisters. She attended Burlington Central High School, graduating with the class of 1992. Merrilee participated in various high school activities such as poms, volleyball, softball, and was a class officer.

It was also in high school that Merrilee was introduced by friends to the Apostolic Church. She always said how grateful she was for the time she spent in the church and credits that period of time for really deepening her faith. It was her deep faith that got her through the valleys of life. At the time of her passing, she was attending West Ridge Community Church.

Post high school graduation, Merrilee eventually received her bachelor’s degree in operations and information management from Northern Illinois University. The bulk of her work life was spent at various public accounting firms, most notably Borhart Spellmeyer & Company where she was the Office Manager for 15+ years. At the time of her passing, she was employed with Cherry Bekaert (formerly PKF Mueller) working in their internal accounting area.

Although Merrilee Kay dreamed of being a wife and mother, that came a little later in life when she met the love of her life, Justin Morgan. They were married in a beautiful backyard ceremony on September 24, 2016. That day Merrilee also became the bonus mom to the daughter of her heart, Madisyn Belle Morgan. Justin and Madisyn became her whole world, and she loved them fiercely.

In addition to her husband Justin and daughter Madisyn, Merrilee is survived by her mother, Merrilee Johnston; her sisters: Lisa (Sparky) Scott, Lori (Gary) Heissler, and Lynn Johnston; her nieces and nephews: Mackenzie, Tanner, and Caden Scott and Erica and Ryan Heissler.

She is now reunited with her paternal and maternal grandparents, and with her father, Johnny Johnston, who preceded her in death.

Merrilee’s family will be hosting a visitation on Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 1p.m. to 3p.m. at Journey of Hope Church at 37W040 Highland Ave, Elgin, IL 60124. A memorial service will follow the visitation.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the handbell fund at Journey of Hope Church, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Tributes may be forwarded to Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

02/14/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
DAKOTA "CODY" PHILLIPS

Dakota Phillips, 26, of Kaneville, affectionately known by his family and friends as “Cody”, left this earthly realm far too soon on February 13, 2026, leaving those closest to him dreaming of a world where his spark could continue to illuminate their lives.

He was born in Geneva, Illinois, on May 27, 1999, to proud and loving parents Kevin Phillips and Aimee Lave.

Cody spent the first seven years of his life living with his mom, dad, and two sisters in Kaneville. The family then packed up and moved to South Dakota. As a young child Cody was a bright and inquisitive boy. He was emotionally in tuned to his surroundings and loved to strike up a conversation with his family, friends, and even strangers he met out and about. He was down to earth, loved life, and his family referred to him as a gentle giant who gave the best hugs. You could always find him out riding his bike and he surrounded himself with a tight group of friends. As he entered his early teens he developed a love for gaming on his Xbox. He never limited himself to one game and thoroughly enjoyed his vast catalog. Right before Cody started his senior year of high school his family returned to Kaneville where they remain to this day. Cody graduated from Kaneland High School class of 2017.

For the past three years Cody diligently worked at the Valvoline in Elgin as the shop manager. He was well respected by his coworkers for his determination, strong work ethic, and kind reliable nature. He poured so much of his time and energy into his work and prioritized his job. He will clearly be missed by all of his coworkers, who will certainly be feeling a void.

Cody’s zest for life was never missed on his family. One constant in his life was the running theme of family always comes first. He took full advantage as a young child of the fact that he lived right next door to his grandma and grandpa. He constantly stopped over and always looked forward to his grandmother’s French toast. Throughout his life he had an affinity for playing cards which he most likely inherited from his mother. On game nights he would be the only young person at the table amongst his aunts. They loved to play Hand in Foot and Cheat Your Neighbor. Growing up his first best friends were his cousins which were all close in age. Him and his cousin Brandon both had a shared love of the tv show Family Guy and could easily quote the show verbatim, laughter would fill the air anytime they were together. He loved his dog Freya more than anything, she was often by his side while he gamed but always loved to snuggle up to him at night. She will miss him dearly. When Cody’s mother, Aimee passed away she saved multiple lives through organ donation which brought Cody immense pride. Cody, also being an organ donor would be at peace knowing that he himself saved many lives as well through his own organ donation. His bright and infectious spirit may no longer be in our presence, but his family and friend’s memories will be where he lives on.

Cody is survived by his father, Kevin Phillips; his sisters: Cecily (Josh) Duehning and Courtney (Chris) Cashen; his paternal grandmother, Jane Phillips; many loving aunts and uncles and cherished cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Aimee Lave; his paternal grandfather, Donald Phillips Jr.; his maternal grandparents, Harold and Marlene Lave; and his cousin, Nicholas McCarney.

Family will be holding services and interment privately.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to an animal shelter of your choice in Cody’s memory. Memorials may be mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

02/10/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
JANICE KINNUNEN

Janice Kinnunen, age 64, passed away into the arms of her Savior, Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

She was born on November 8, 1961, to loving parents, Harold and Wilda May.

Janice grew up in Chicago and attended local schools, including Carl Schurz. Following her schooling, Janice began working at an answering service part time, before moving to Aurora for a time.

Janice met the love of her life through mutual friends. No one knows if it was the way Wayne looked in his uniform or something else, but a friendship grew into a lifelong love. They were united in marriage on September 2, 1989, in Aurora, IL. They began their new life in Aurora until they began raising a family of two children. They settled in Maple Park and have been making wonderful memories ever since.

She was a happy member of the Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Club and fully embraced being a mother of twins.

Janice didn’t travel often, but when she did, she made it count. Ireland was her favorite destination, but many happy times were spent camping and visiting her friends in Colorado. She was an avid reader and a movie buff. Her hands were rarely idle and when they weren’t turning pages of her favorite author, Stephen King, Janice was happy to create the most mouthwatering aromas in the kitchen. Janice had an eye for finding a bargain and was known to wander the aisles of thrift stores in search of the next great treasure. Sewing and knitting also kept her busy at times, making drapes, blankets and mending anything that was a little worn but too loved to donate.

She leaves her loving husband Wayne Kinnunen; two children: Brett Charles Kinnunen and Molly Jean Kinnunen; one brother, Ted (Cheri) May; several nieces, nephews and a community full of friends.

Janice is reunited with her parents, Harold and Wilda May and two brothers: Pat May and Tom May who preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. with a funeral service to celebrate her life to follow at 4 p.m., Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Conley Funeral Home 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tails Humane Society at https://tailshumanesociety.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

02/09/2026

Life Story and Service Details for
Vicky B. Doyle

Vicky Benita (Chapman) Doyle, 82, of St. Charles, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2026.

Born in Lexington, KY to Benjamin and Lo**ta Chapman, Vicky grew up with her two sisters and brother in Batavia, IL. After graduating from Batavia High School, she moved on to working in the dental field. It was while working as a Dental Hygienist in Geneva that she met her husband, John. Together they began their life in Geneva before settling in St Charles in what would be their lifelong home. In June of ‘73, she welcomed her first son, followed by her daughter in August 1979. After becoming a widow, she set forth a strong example of hard work for her children to follow. Vicky was best described as a “firecracker” by people who knew her best: often speaking her mind, showcasing her strong personality, and climbing tall ladders to clean leaves off her roof.

She is survived by her son, Sean and daughter in law Sarah (Wagner) Doyle of Sycamore and her daughter, Cassie (Doyle) and son in law Frank Anson, also of Sycamore. She leaves behind seven grandchildren, Ian, Tessa (Stefan) Hueber, Emma, Lily, Cash, Benjamin, and Charlotte. She also leaves behind her sister, Carleen.

Vicky is preceded in death by her husband, John, sister, Sharon, and brother, Bruce. She also joins her beloved parents, Benjamin and Lo**ta (Haines) Chapman and a much loved great-granddaughter, Cora.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 10am to 11am at Conley Funeral Home at 116 W. Pierce Street, Elburn, IL 60119. A memorial service will immediately follow the visitation at 11am also at Conley Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society in honor of Vicky’s late husband via the following link https://www.cancer.org. Memorials may be mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

02/05/2026

Life Story for
JOAN I. "ONIE" PETERSON
Private family services will be at a later date.

Joan I. “Onie” Peterson, 76, of Elburn, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 31, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on October 26, 1949, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to parents, Palmer and Lucille Onstad.

Joan grew up in Eau Claire alongside her 5 siblings. She attended local schools, graduating from Memorial High School, class of 1967.

Joan’s future husband, Mark Peterson, grew up just down the street from her. They were acquaintances for many years until they finally met outside the local grocery store. Mark was 4 years her senior, so when Joan was a senior in high school, Mark proposed and of course she said yes. Shortly after high school, Joan and Mark moved to Elburn but would return to Eau Claire to be married on December 24, 1968, at Good Shepherd Church. Eager to have a family of their own, they welcomed their first daughter the following year and over the next several years they would welcome another daughter followed by their son.

Joan was a stay at home mom until the mid 80’s when her youngest was old enough to start school. She first went to work for Trionics in Geneva and stayed with the company when they moved locations to Elburn. At Trionics she worked on the line putting together circuit boards. Her next and final job was at Monitor which was located in Elburn as well. She worked quality control for many years at Monitor and would retire from there in 2011 at the age of 62.

For many years Joan and Mark spent their Friday nights at St. Charles Bowl where they bowled on a league alongside side their best friends.

Joan was a bingo wiz and was more than capable of keeping track of several cards at a time. She loved the group she played with and they fully supported each other’s bingo related superstitions. Something that all of her and Mark’s friends looked forward to were the top-secret poker games they held in their basement. When Joan had free time she loved to indulge herself in a good true crime book or watch the ID Network where her favorite shows were Forensic Files and Law & Order. Ever the fan of country music, you could usually hear from outside the house. Joan loved the holidays, especially Christmas and was known for painting her own ceramic Christmas village. She loved to watch sports, especially football. Originally, she was a Raiders fan but was eventually converted to a Kansas City Chiefs fan after watching Patrick Mahomes’ skills on the field. She closely followed the Cubs as well and was elated when the curse was broken when they won the world series. What Joan loved most though was her family, especially when it came to spending time with her grandchildren. Joan’s vivacious spirit and zest for life will be missed dearly by her family.

Joan is survived by her children: Jodi (David Gissendorf) Peterson, Kelly Kennedy, John Peterson; her grandchildren: Brett Peterson, Samantha (Ben Haritos) Peterson, Eric (Amanda Sleasman) Heffron, Kayla Kennedy, and Ryan Kennedy; her great grandchildren: Noah Haritos and Lillie Heffron; her sisters: Janice Kasak and Delores “Boots” Siebens; several cousins and many nieces and nephews.

She is reunited with her parents, Palmer and Lucille Onstad; her husband of 48 years, Mark Peterson; her sister, Judy Polus; and her brothers: John Onstad and Richard Onstad.

Services will be held privately in Eau Claire, Wisconsin at a later date.

Memorials may be mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home page, or at www.conleycare.com.

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