Irene Ficarelli

Irene Ficarelli (née Duda), 97, of Franklin Park, IL, passed on July 12th, 2024, at her home of 65 years. Irene will be remembered by her devoted son, Thomas, loving granddaughters Andrea and Brianna, and great grandchildren Rowan, Marlow, and Jonathan. She was preceded in death by her husband Angelo and her son Ronald. Irene was born in Chicago IL in 1926, daughter of Frank and Katherine Duda. She was a ballerina in her youth and always spoke fondly of her time in high school - practicing ballet and taking the streetcar to the beach. She took courses at Northwestern University and held many jobs in her life. Irene loved to read and continued to do her ballet barre exercises until the end of her life. Nothing made her light up more than seeing her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A survivor to the end, Irene valued education and health…and absolutely loved animals.

Visitation, Mass and Internment:

A funeral mass will be held at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church (9613 Schiller Blvd., Franklin Park, Illinois) on Friday July 19th, at 10:30 a.m. with a visitation prior beginning at 9:30 a.m., for those who wish to pay respects. Interment at St. Joseph’s Mausoleum will follow immediately after the mass.

Donations:

Please send flowers to Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home or in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to St. Sophia’s Forgotten Felines, or other animal welfare organization.