Joseph Squellati

Joseph W. Squellati

Age 71 of Wilmington, passed away Saturday morning, September 15, 2018 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

Born July 29, 1947 in Joliet, Illinois, Joseph Wayne was a son of William and Martha Elizabeth “Libby” (Farrell) Squellati. He was raised and educated in Coal City and graduated from Coal City High School with the Class of 1966. Following high school, Joe attended DeVry Institute in Chicago, before gaining employment with Johnson and Johnson Personal Products, where he made his career as a machinist and mechanic. In most recent years he also worked at the Empress Casino in Joliet.

On June 29, 1968, Joe married Martha A. Gallagher in Assumption Catholic Church in Coal City, and together they made their home and raised their family in Wilmington. Joe was an active member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, where he served as a lector and taught CCD. He was a lifelong member of the Coal City Area Club and formerly belonged to The Wilmington Lions Club and the Wilmington Moose Lodge 241. Joe in past years enjoyed hunting and fishing; bowled on a league, and enjoyed playing bingo. He loved baseball and was a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs. A man of various interests and hobbies, none was greater than Joe’s love of being with family and spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include three children: Connie (Wayne) Horne of Raleigh, North Carolina and Joe Squellati (Robyn Ybarra) and Maribeth Hines (Mike Huffer), both of Wilmington; seven grandchildren: Cainon Reed, Joseph and Anthony Knutson, Benjamin and Logan Squellati, Madilyn Coyne and Makenzie Huffer; one sister, Linda (Jim) Littrell of Pompano Beach, Florida; one aunt, Margaret O’Bert of Wilmington; his mother-in-law, Mary (the late LeRoy) Bittaker; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Michael (Marilyn) Gallagher of New Lenox and Henry Bittaker and Marion Gallagher, both of Florida; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and several cousins, including: Ron (Jan) O’Bert of Ohio, Marion Sims of North Carolina, Charles (Sally) Squellati of Coal City and Deborah (Mike) Youskevtch of Morris, as well as family friend Sissy Sisk of Wilmington and his faithful Cairn Terrier, Max.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; wife Martha on March 9, 2018; daughter Cathryn (2005); one child in infancy; his brother, Stephen M. Squellati (2007); nephew, Eddie Squellati (2014) and his father-in-law, Lawrence Gallagher.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Saturday September 22, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral service 1:00 p.m. at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Deacon Jay Plese from St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington will preside, and burial will follow in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Braidwood, where Joe will be laid to rest with his wife and daughter.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Joe’s memory to The Wilmington Lions Club, 805 River Street, Wilmington, IL 60481, to Kuzma Care Cottage, 635 S. Main Street, Wilmington, IL 60481, or to a local charity of the donor’s choosing.

Family and friends may sign the guest book, upload photographs or share Joe’s memorial page online through social media, by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com/notices/Joseph-Squellati

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815-476-2181)