Obituaries
William John Cavanaugh
August 16, 1927 - January 20, 2023
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VISITATION
February 3, 2023 | 9:30-10:30 A.M. -
St. Patrick Crane Road Church
St. Charles, Illinois - Funeral
- February 3, 2023 | 10:30 A.M.
-
St. Patrick Crane Road Church
St. Charles, Illinois -
Burial Location
River Hills Memorial Park
William John Cavanaugh, age 95, of St. Charles passed away Friday, January 20, 2023 at Delnor Hospital in Geneva.
He was born August 16, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois to John William and Julia Cavanaugh.
The day after graduating from high school in June 1945, he joined the Navy. He liked to say that the Japanese surrendered when they heard he had enlisted. He met his wife Marian while working in the insurance business in Chicago. In 1957, they moved to St. Charles, where Bill served thousands of people as an insurance and real estate agent. Notre Dame fan, hobby pilot, longtime St. Pat’s parishioner, avid reader, and lawn warrior, Bill loved his family above all and always made us laugh.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marian, four children, John (Cyndie), Mary Pat Cavanaugh, Gail (Phil) VanBogaert and Bill (Tracy), fifteen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and his brother, Jim.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Ellen Bartels, Patricia Dill, a son, Daniel and a grandson, Connor.
Memorial Mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M., Friday, February 3rd at St. Patrick Crane Road Catholic Church, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles, Illinois 60175. A Memorial Visitation will be Friday February 3rd, from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the mass at church. Interment will be private at River Hills Memorial Park, Batavia, Illinois.
Donations to the “Pancreatic Cancer Action Network” can be made in William’s name using the following link https://pancan.org/
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Condolences
Michael Baxter from Lakewood, CO
"Dear Bill and Family, Thank you for sending out word of your father's death. Sorry to read of this tough time at the end, but happy to know of all those good years too. Reading some of his one-liners, like the one about the Japanese surrendering, helps me see where you got your humor from (that, plus his story offer another reason to doubt the justification of dropping the atom bomb by the usual "it-ended-the-war" narrative, though he perhaps would not agree). At any rate, he sounds like a great guy, who lived a great life. An life of some sadness, for sure (especially with a pre-deceased son and grandson), but also of joy from a long life in marriage and family. I'm sure he was proud of you, Bill, and your family. As well he should have been. God bless you all in this time of grief and gratitude. Love, Mike Baxter"
Kathy Rohrbach from Saint Charles, IL
"Mary Pat, You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. During this difficult time of losing your father, may he rest in peace. You have my deepest sympathy."