Joanne Filicicchia

Joanne Marie Filicicchia

July 8, 1932 – December 20, 2022

Joanne Marie Filicicchia, age 90, a lifelong Catholic, joined the Church Triumphant, and passed peacefully, at home in Lemont, IL Tuesday evening, December 20, 2022.

Joanne is the daughter of Antanas “Tony” and Theofila “Tilly” Gudalavich, immigrants of Lithuania and is preceded in death by her husband Dominic, married 69 years.

She is survived by her seven sons – Dan (Jennifer), Dave (Michelle), John (Jennifer), Jim, Joe (Margaret), Anthony, Andrew (Tara); nine grandchildren, Nate (Leah), Lindsay (Dave), Mike (Jessie), Devon, Jackson, Tabitha, Dominic (Tabitha), Alyssa, Matthew (Angelica); and eleven great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; siblings Annie (Jack), Bea (Tony), Frank (Martha), Eddie, Tony (Pat), Vera (Clark) and Estelle (Wayne). Joanne is also survived by nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends in the surrounding area.

Joanne was born in West Frankfort, Illinois and raised in Lemont on her parents’ farm. At the time she still would take a horse to go into town and in one instance, did not tie it up too well and had to walk home. One of her favorite pastimes was growing flowers and vegetables. Her least favorite pastime was picking the potato bugs off of the plants. She liked playing in the hay loft where she fell and broke an arm. She graduated from Saint Francis High School in Joliet and performed in multiple school plays.

She and her sisters would take the bus to the south side of Chicago where they worked cleaning an apartment building. (Joanne was famously known to say, “I will never have venetian blinds, they are such a pain to clean.”) She also worked at Clearing Machine Shop in the office where she met her future husband Dominic, who was employed at Clearing at the time. In the early years of their marriage, Joanne and Dom took up residence in Lemont, Illinois, in the home Dom and relatives built. It was here that their family began filling the house with love, laughter and seven boys.

Throughout Joanne’s life, she exemplified the Catholic virtues of faithfullness and self-sacrifice for family and others; “If you only have a little, share the little you have,” she would say. She showed her love and commitment to others in the many children she babysat full time, 53 in total over the years; in some cases, caring for multiple generations.

More than one child was known to say, “Jan, you’re a good cooker!” Ever frugal, if there were leftovers she turned it into another amazing meal, and if someone walked in the door, they better eat! As she would always say, “The door is always open.” She meant that and cared for her sister Babe’s child for two years.

Joanne is a committed member of St. Alphonsus Church in Lemont, beginning when she came here with her parents when she was two or three. She is an accomplished singer and used her gifts in the Saint Alphonsus church choir and can be heard on the records the choir made.

Joanne’s life was filled with family, stories, friends, and church activities (and a lot of cooking for a small army). The number of ricotta cakes and birthday cakes she made, if placed end-to-end, may reach the moon! She is fondly remembered by those who knew her to be faithful, giving, caring, adventurous, nature loving, to the point, detailed, concerned for others, quick to laugh, strict when needed, a good friend, and a gentle soul. Her absence is deeply felt by many.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, starting at 9 a.m. at St. Alphonsus Church (605 State Street, Lemont, IL), prayers beginning at 10:20 a.m., followed by Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment immediately following at St. Alphonsus Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Alphonsus / St. Patrick Church .