Gloria Cesario, age 88, a resident of Grand Haven in Romeoville, IL, formerly of LaGrange Park, IL.

Gloria Cesario, age 88, a resident of Grand Haven in Romeoville, IL, formerly of LaGrange Park, IL, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 22, 2025, at Ascension Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village, IL. She was born on February 18, 1938, in Chicago, IL.

Beloved mother of Brian (Teresa) Donnelly of Simi Valley, CA, Maria (James) Donovan of Batavia, IL, Richard Donnelly of Pelham, MA, and the late Paul (Laura) Donnelly, adored grandmother of John Donnelly; Eric Donnelly and Matthew (Vicara) Donnelly; Patrick Donovan and Laurel Donnelly, devoted daughter of the late Frank and Emma Cesario, dear sister of Marylou (the late James) Connelly of Downers Grove, IL and the late Frank (Sally) Cesario, fond sister-in-law, cousin, aunt, great-aunt, and friend of many.

Gloria Cesario was born on February 18, 1938, on the near west side of Chicago. She grew up on Huron Street with many nearby relatives and later moved to Madison Street where her parents Frank and Emma owned a flooring and toy store. After graduating from St. Catherine of Siena High School and Mundelein College 2 years later, she taught first grade at St. Richard Grammar School. In 1958, she married Edward Donnelly and moved to his childhood home on California Avenue. Eventually, the family, which then included her 4 children, moved to Ostrander Avenue in La Grange Park. When her children started to attend high school, she went back to school to study Recreational Therapy, first at Triton College and later at the College of St. Francis. After receiving her degree, she began her working career at Plymouth Place senior living community in La Grange Park helping the elderly with recreational programs. Following Plymouth Place, she got a job at Hines VA hospital working with the drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit and the spinal cord injury patients. This was a very satisfying part of her career as she was able to help many unfortunate veterans. In the late 1980’s she moved to El Toro, California and began working at the Long Beach VA hospital. Eventually she moved back to Lindenhurst to be with her aging mom and to start a new job at the VA Hospital in North Chicago. After retiring from the VA, she moved to the Grand Haven community in Romeoville. While living in Romeoville, she became a devoted parishioner at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, where she was a lay member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate and sang in the Resurrection Choir as well as the Christmas plays at Grand Haven. She was also active in the prison ministry helping inmates at the Joliet Correctional Center.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, 4:00-8:00 PM at Overman-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 15219 S. Joliet Rd. (Corners of Rt. 59 and Rt. 30), Plainfield, IL 60544.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 7, 11:00 AM at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 15629 S. Route 59, Plainfield, IL 60544, (815) 436-2651.

Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.

For more information, please visit www.overman-jones.com or call (815) 436-9221.