Obituary: Marlene C. Vidano (nee Kuzma)

Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory​.

Marlene C. Vidano

(nee Kuzma)

Marlene C. Vidano, age 94, passed away on Friday, June 19, 2026, at Lightways Hospice, in Joliet, Illinois, with the love of her family by her side. She was born on December 7, 1931, the daughter of the late John and Anna (Bahor) Kuzma.A lifelong Joliet resident, she attended St. Joseph Grade School and St. Francis Academy in Joliet, IL. Marlene married Bernard J. Vidano on December 29, 1951 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Joliet, IL.

Marlene was employed at Standard Oil in her younger years.Following the death of her husband, she worked at Printers Ink, the office of Dr. Matthew Parrilli in Lockport, and then for her son, David, at Vidano Corporation. A job she enjoyed because his office was in her home. She was a long time parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus for many years and volunteered at the school when her four children were in attendance there.

Family was everything to Marlene. She was a truly unique and special soul with the ability to not take herself and life too seriously. Holidays and celebrations at Marlene’s were filled with joy and laughter. She had a sense of humor and self esteem that gave her the ability to be the butt of many jokes by her children and to laugh at herself. She never missed a single birthday, sending cards and goodies to children, grand and great, until her very last days.

Visits from her children were always filled with questions of care and curiosity of how the grand and great-grandkids were doing. She loved seeing her grandkids and what they were up to and had such a special fondness and pride in seeing her great-granddaughter, Rory Bianchetta sing and perform at St. Raymond’s Church whenever she physically could make it. The children, grand and great loved to visit because she had an insatiable sweet tooth that filled her freezer and pantry, rivaling Willy Wonka, which the children, grand and great reflect on to this very day. Marlene lived a long and full life but without the help of her daughter, Diane and her husband Glenn, she would not have been with us as long as she was. Together, they purchased a duplex next to each other over 30 years ago and the rest is history. The family is forever grateful to both of them for their love and patience.

Marlene is survived by her four children, David (the late Barbara Boseo, 2015) Vidano, Debra (Craig) Perrine, Diane (Glenn) Gornik, and Doug (Carol Knott) Vidano; eight grandchildren, Kevin (Paul) Gornik, Mark Gornik, Dana (Nicholas) Torres, Tara (Daniel) Hayes, Christopher (Megan)Vidano, Gina (Steve) Bianchetta, Rachel (Nick) Westerhausen, and Kayla (Tyler) Prickett; and 11 great-grandchildren, Chase and Owen Eskridge, Charlotte and William Hayes, Evelyn and Easton Torres, Rory Bianchetta, Ripley and Emery Vidano, Leah Westerhausen, and Rory Gornik. She is also survived by nephews, cousins, David’s partner, Claire D’Amico, and special friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bernard J. Vidano (1975); her parents; her in-laws, Thomas and Rosemary (nee Fumagalli) Vidano; sister and brother-in-law, Bernice and Robert Kostelc; sister-in-law and her husband, Rosemary (nee Vidano) and Glenn Ressler; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.

Visitation for Marlene C. Vidano will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, IL, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of prayers at 10:45 a.m.Procession will follow to Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m.Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care, or Margaret Bertrand Scholarship fund c/o Lightways Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431.

For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com, where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.

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