SouthtownStar (Chicago, IL) - Thursday, April 8, 2010
Midlothian IL - Edward A. Bilotti, beloved husband of Catherine nee Kendall. Loving father of Richard (Lita) Bilotti, Peggy Lambert and Diane (late Kevin) Hanley. Proud Grandfather of Patrick Lambert and Gina Hanley. Dear brother of Robert and the late Albert (Lorraine) Bilotti. Fond uncle of numerous nieces and nephews.
Veteran U.S. Army WWII.
Funeral Friday 10:00 AM from the Hickey Memorial Chapel, 4201 W. 147th St. Midlothian to St. Christopher Church for Mass at 10:30 AM.
Interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, IL. Visitation Thursday 2:00 - 9:00 PM. 708-385-4478
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SouthtownStar (Chicago, IL) - Sunday, April 11, 2010
Ed Bilotti: A life of volunteerism
By Michael Drakulich (708) 802-8841 [email protected]
Ed Bilotti was not the kind of man who needed to get credit or recognition for his military service or all the charitable work he did. But there was plenty to recognize.
He spent nearly 40 years volunteering for various organizations while owning and running a shoe repair shop and raising a family with his wife. Mr.
Bilotti, a longtime Midlothian resident and World War II veteran, died Tuesday. He was 84. Mr. Bilotti served in the Army's 10th Mountain Division during the war and saw 21 months of active duty in the European Theater. He received the Purple Heart Medal for an injury he incurred just weeks before the war ended and many other awards for combat and marksmanship.
Two years ago, neighbor Dave Twombly helped obtain Bilotti's Bronze Star that was due to him for his regiment's combat in Italy's Po Valley. He was grateful to Twombly but downplayed his military role. "That was really nice of Dave to do that for me," Bilotti told the SouthtownStar in 2008. "But the medals aren't that big of a deal. I served my country like a lot of men did. We didn't do it for the medals. We didn't ask for anything. We did it because we're proud Americans who love their country."
When Mr. Bilotti came back from the war, it was time to choose a career. His father was a cobbler and suggested his son give it a try. So Mr. Bilotti began working in his father's shoe shop in Blue Island. He would follow in his father's footsteps and open his own store in Matteson in 1949, moving to Palos Heights in 1951 where the Bilotti One Stop shop operated for 42 years.
Besides fixing shoes, Mr. Bilotti's store sold music and had a barber shop in the front. Eventually, the records and music were phased out, and he brought in a dry cleaner.
Some of his famous clients included Irish dancer Michael Flatley, television news reporter Jim Gibbons and former Chicago Blackhawks player and coach Ed Olczyk, the family said. But it was his volunteerism that Mr. Bilotti was particularly proud of, daughter Peggy Lambert said.
For 40 years, he and his wife Kay volunteered at Oak Forest Hospital. About 15 years ago, the two began to volunteer for Coffee House, a social gathering for mentally challenged adults through St. Christopher Catholic Church. On the second Friday of each month, Mr. Bilotti and his wife of more than 60 years would arrange card games and dinner for 12 adults. They also helped organize a Christmas party and birthday parties in June.
Kay Bilotti said her husband was looking forward to taking an Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., later this spring. She and her daughter joked that though the trip wasn't likely to be until May or June, he already had his bags packed.
Besides his wife and daughter, Mr. Bilotti is survived by a son, Richard; another daughter, Diane, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services have been held.
Midlothian IL - Edward A. Bilotti, beloved husband of Catherine nee Kendall. Loving father of Richard (Lita) Bilotti, Peggy Lambert and Diane (late Kevin) Hanley. Proud Grandfather of Patrick Lambert and Gina Hanley. Dear brother of Robert and the late Albert (Lorraine) Bilotti. Fond uncle of numerous nieces and nephews.
Veteran U.S. Army WWII.
Funeral Friday 10:00 AM from the Hickey Memorial Chapel, 4201 W. 147th St. Midlothian to St. Christopher Church for Mass at 10:30 AM.
Interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, IL. Visitation Thursday 2:00 - 9:00 PM. 708-385-4478
********************
SouthtownStar (Chicago, IL) - Sunday, April 11, 2010
Ed Bilotti: A life of volunteerism
By Michael Drakulich (708) 802-8841 [email protected]
Ed Bilotti was not the kind of man who needed to get credit or recognition for his military service or all the charitable work he did. But there was plenty to recognize.
He spent nearly 40 years volunteering for various organizations while owning and running a shoe repair shop and raising a family with his wife. Mr.
Bilotti, a longtime Midlothian resident and World War II veteran, died Tuesday. He was 84. Mr. Bilotti served in the Army's 10th Mountain Division during the war and saw 21 months of active duty in the European Theater. He received the Purple Heart Medal for an injury he incurred just weeks before the war ended and many other awards for combat and marksmanship.
Two years ago, neighbor Dave Twombly helped obtain Bilotti's Bronze Star that was due to him for his regiment's combat in Italy's Po Valley. He was grateful to Twombly but downplayed his military role. "That was really nice of Dave to do that for me," Bilotti told the SouthtownStar in 2008. "But the medals aren't that big of a deal. I served my country like a lot of men did. We didn't do it for the medals. We didn't ask for anything. We did it because we're proud Americans who love their country."
When Mr. Bilotti came back from the war, it was time to choose a career. His father was a cobbler and suggested his son give it a try. So Mr. Bilotti began working in his father's shoe shop in Blue Island. He would follow in his father's footsteps and open his own store in Matteson in 1949, moving to Palos Heights in 1951 where the Bilotti One Stop shop operated for 42 years.
Besides fixing shoes, Mr. Bilotti's store sold music and had a barber shop in the front. Eventually, the records and music were phased out, and he brought in a dry cleaner.
Some of his famous clients included Irish dancer Michael Flatley, television news reporter Jim Gibbons and former Chicago Blackhawks player and coach Ed Olczyk, the family said. But it was his volunteerism that Mr. Bilotti was particularly proud of, daughter Peggy Lambert said.
For 40 years, he and his wife Kay volunteered at Oak Forest Hospital. About 15 years ago, the two began to volunteer for Coffee House, a social gathering for mentally challenged adults through St. Christopher Catholic Church. On the second Friday of each month, Mr. Bilotti and his wife of more than 60 years would arrange card games and dinner for 12 adults. They also helped organize a Christmas party and birthday parties in June.
Kay Bilotti said her husband was looking forward to taking an Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., later this spring. She and her daughter joked that though the trip wasn't likely to be until May or June, he already had his bags packed.
Besides his wife and daughter, Mr. Bilotti is survived by a son, Richard; another daughter, Diane, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services have been held.
SouthtownStar (Chicago, IL) - Thursday, April 8, 2010
Midlothian IL - Edward A. Bilotti, beloved husband of Catherine nee Kendall. Loving father of Richard (Lita) Bilotti, Peggy Lambert and Diane (late Kevin) Hanley. Proud Grandfather of Patrick Lambert and Gina Hanley. Dear brother of Robert and the late Albert (Lorraine) Bilotti. Fond uncle of numerous nieces and nephews.
Veteran U.S. Army WWII.
Funeral Friday 10:00 AM from the Hickey Memorial Chapel, 4201 W. 147th St. Midlothian to St. Christopher Church for Mass at 10:30 AM.
Interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, IL. Visitation Thursday 2:00 - 9:00 PM. 708-385-4478
********************
SouthtownStar (Chicago, IL) - Sunday, April 11, 2010
Ed Bilotti: A life of volunteerism
By Michael Drakulich (708) 802-8841 [email protected]
Ed Bilotti was not the kind of man who needed to get credit or recognition for his military service or all the charitable work he did. But there was plenty to recognize.
He spent nearly 40 years volunteering for various organizations while owning and running a shoe repair shop and raising a family with his wife. Mr.
Bilotti, a longtime Midlothian resident and World War II veteran, died Tuesday. He was 84. Mr. Bilotti served in the Army's 10th Mountain Division during the war and saw 21 months of active duty in the European Theater. He received the Purple Heart Medal for an injury he incurred just weeks before the war ended and many other awards for combat and marksmanship.
Two years ago, neighbor Dave Twombly helped obtain Bilotti's Bronze Star that was due to him for his regiment's combat in Italy's Po Valley. He was grateful to Twombly but downplayed his military role. "That was really nice of Dave to do that for me," Bilotti told the SouthtownStar in 2008. "But the medals aren't that big of a deal. I served my country like a lot of men did. We didn't do it for the medals. We didn't ask for anything. We did it because we're proud Americans who love their country."
When Mr. Bilotti came back from the war, it was time to choose a career. His father was a cobbler and suggested his son give it a try. So Mr. Bilotti began working in his father's shoe shop in Blue Island. He would follow in his father's footsteps and open his own store in Matteson in 1949, moving to Palos Heights in 1951 where the Bilotti One Stop shop operated for 42 years.
Besides fixing shoes, Mr. Bilotti's store sold music and had a barber shop in the front. Eventually, the records and music were phased out, and he brought in a dry cleaner.
Some of his famous clients included Irish dancer Michael Flatley, television news reporter Jim Gibbons and former Chicago Blackhawks player and coach Ed Olczyk, the family said. But it was his volunteerism that Mr. Bilotti was particularly proud of, daughter Peggy Lambert said.
For 40 years, he and his wife Kay volunteered at Oak Forest Hospital. About 15 years ago, the two began to volunteer for Coffee House, a social gathering for mentally challenged adults through St. Christopher Catholic Church. On the second Friday of each month, Mr. Bilotti and his wife of more than 60 years would arrange card games and dinner for 12 adults. They also helped organize a Christmas party and birthday parties in June.
Kay Bilotti said her husband was looking forward to taking an Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., later this spring. She and her daughter joked that though the trip wasn't likely to be until May or June, he already had his bags packed.
Besides his wife and daughter, Mr. Bilotti is survived by a son, Richard; another daughter, Diane, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services have been held.
Midlothian IL - Edward A. Bilotti, beloved husband of Catherine nee Kendall. Loving father of Richard (Lita) Bilotti, Peggy Lambert and Diane (late Kevin) Hanley. Proud Grandfather of Patrick Lambert and Gina Hanley. Dear brother of Robert and the late Albert (Lorraine) Bilotti. Fond uncle of numerous nieces and nephews.
Veteran U.S. Army WWII.
Funeral Friday 10:00 AM from the Hickey Memorial Chapel, 4201 W. 147th St. Midlothian to St. Christopher Church for Mass at 10:30 AM.
Interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Elwood, IL. Visitation Thursday 2:00 - 9:00 PM. 708-385-4478
********************
SouthtownStar (Chicago, IL) - Sunday, April 11, 2010
Ed Bilotti: A life of volunteerism
By Michael Drakulich (708) 802-8841 [email protected]
Ed Bilotti was not the kind of man who needed to get credit or recognition for his military service or all the charitable work he did. But there was plenty to recognize.
He spent nearly 40 years volunteering for various organizations while owning and running a shoe repair shop and raising a family with his wife. Mr.
Bilotti, a longtime Midlothian resident and World War II veteran, died Tuesday. He was 84. Mr. Bilotti served in the Army's 10th Mountain Division during the war and saw 21 months of active duty in the European Theater. He received the Purple Heart Medal for an injury he incurred just weeks before the war ended and many other awards for combat and marksmanship.
Two years ago, neighbor Dave Twombly helped obtain Bilotti's Bronze Star that was due to him for his regiment's combat in Italy's Po Valley. He was grateful to Twombly but downplayed his military role. "That was really nice of Dave to do that for me," Bilotti told the SouthtownStar in 2008. "But the medals aren't that big of a deal. I served my country like a lot of men did. We didn't do it for the medals. We didn't ask for anything. We did it because we're proud Americans who love their country."
When Mr. Bilotti came back from the war, it was time to choose a career. His father was a cobbler and suggested his son give it a try. So Mr. Bilotti began working in his father's shoe shop in Blue Island. He would follow in his father's footsteps and open his own store in Matteson in 1949, moving to Palos Heights in 1951 where the Bilotti One Stop shop operated for 42 years.
Besides fixing shoes, Mr. Bilotti's store sold music and had a barber shop in the front. Eventually, the records and music were phased out, and he brought in a dry cleaner.
Some of his famous clients included Irish dancer Michael Flatley, television news reporter Jim Gibbons and former Chicago Blackhawks player and coach Ed Olczyk, the family said. But it was his volunteerism that Mr. Bilotti was particularly proud of, daughter Peggy Lambert said.
For 40 years, he and his wife Kay volunteered at Oak Forest Hospital. About 15 years ago, the two began to volunteer for Coffee House, a social gathering for mentally challenged adults through St. Christopher Catholic Church. On the second Friday of each month, Mr. Bilotti and his wife of more than 60 years would arrange card games and dinner for 12 adults. They also helped organize a Christmas party and birthday parties in June.
Kay Bilotti said her husband was looking forward to taking an Honor Flight to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., later this spring. She and her daughter joked that though the trip wasn't likely to be until May or June, he already had his bags packed.
Besides his wife and daughter, Mr. Bilotti is survived by a son, Richard; another daughter, Diane, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services have been held.
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