Search by Name

Add a Memory

Send Flowers

Make a Donation

Share Obituary

1929 - 2014

BORN

1929

DIED

2014

FUNERAL HOME

Valhalla Gardens of Memory

3412 Frank Scott Pkwy West

Belleville, Illinois

Robert DeLaria Obituary

Robert DeLaria

Robert George "Bob" DeLaria, 85, born March 19, 1929, in Everett, Mass., passed away Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, at New Athens Home for the Aged, New Athens, Ill.

Robert was a retired social worker for the State of Illinois. He previously worked for St. John's Children's Home. Bob was an accomplished pianist and was in the entertainment field as a younger man. He was the choir director for St. Mary's for many years. Robert served in the United States Army Air Base Group, Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, Ill. He loved his children and his grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife, Jerry J., nee Cox, DeLaria; son, Bradley James DeLaria; parents, James Paul and Dorothea Antoinette, nee Casano, DeLaria; siblings, Dick DeLaria, Jim DeLaria, Clifford DeLaria, Louise Fiore and Norma Minick.

Surviving are his loving and devoted children, Richard Samuel (Dawn) DeLaria of Illinois, Thana Dawn DeLaria of Missouri, Lea DeLaria of New York, and Mary Elizabeth (Dan) Feltman of Illinois; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild; siblings, Al (Nancy) DeLaria, Roger (Billie) DeLaria, David (Robert) DeLaria and Lorraine (Cedric) Rogers; and a host of other family and friends.

Memorials in Bob's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Visitation: A memorial gathering of family and friends will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill.

Funeral: A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 14, 2014, at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, with Monsignor Bill McGhee officiating. Inurnment will follow in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.

VALHALLA GAERDNER HOLTEN FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Belleville News-Democrat on Aug. 11, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert DeLaria

19 Entries

February 22, 2015

Dear greatniece Zena, this your greataunt Lorraine Rogers, hoping to make contact & hoping that I have the correct person. I am responding to the email for your grandpa my brother Bob, dated Thurs., Feb.19, 2015. It was a touching & beautiful testimony to 2 great people, Jerry & Bob. I met you & your sisters, with my husband Cedric, when you all were still young kids. And I have not had any correspondence with your Mom, Thana, since we were young kids. I am only 6 yrs. older than your Mom. My email is [email protected] Hope you,ll respond to this email. Lots of Love to you all....Aunt Lorraine

Lorraine Rogers

February 20, 2015

This message is really for all Bob's children. I apologize to you all for not getting flowers to your house, Rick, as the spokesperson for Mary, Lea, & Thana. I wanted the flowers there for Bob's memorial service many many months ago. Many issues in my own home distracted me enough that I failed. I phoned once, Rick, to rectify, but got no reply, & I did not follow up....Sorry again. I am really thankful for this opportunity to let you know again how much I appreciated your Dad, my brother. What a talented easy-going, good-humored, generous man he was (& is, I believe). Jerry & he made an excellent team. I would REALLY like to be able to communicate with you "children." Rick, can you get my email address or phone# to Thana, Mary, Lea? If/when you phone/email, identify yourself and your relationship to Bob, so I know who you are & our connection. I try to be private & want to know who & where you are too....Anyway, to remind you all, many of whom I have not seen for years & years, I'm Lorraine DeLaria Rogers, the last of 10 children born to James & Dorothea DeLaria. My brother Bob was no.3....I hope one of you will read this & get in touch with me or brother Allan (no.7)who also has my phone no., etc.... Love to you all.

February 19, 2015

Being the oldest grandchild I try to stay strong for the entire family...I miss my grandpa and grandmother more than words can ever express they made growing up lots of fun in a time were people could be very mean and gave me more pleasant memories to share with my future grands....I'll never forget either of them

Roger DeLaria

August 16, 2014

I was terribly saddened to hear of my brother Bob's passing. My happiest memory of him and his family is the year he invited me for Christmas. This was many, many years ago - the kids were little. I was in the AF, alone, in OK. It meant so much to me to spend time with a loving family. Gerry shopped with me for the kids' gifts. I will always remember Bob as kind and thoughtful.
I am number 5 in the line up and now the oldest. My thoughts and prayers are with Bob's children and families.
Uncle Roger

Dennis Dvorachek

August 14, 2014

My deepest sympathy to the DeLaria family. So many happy memories of the years that Bob directed St. Mary's Choir in the '70's and early 80's.

Mary K. (Voegtle) Carroll

August 14, 2014

To the Delaria family - Sending you best wishes in this time of loss.

August 13, 2014

dear lea and mary you were blesses with two wonderful parents. i think of them often. my prayers are with you. sharron and david wayne junker

Karol Shadle (Junker)

August 12, 2014

Lea and Mary, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Your dad was such a wonderful and patient person, especially when we were up to no good! Love you all.

August 12, 2014

Bob: You were the best looking young man of the entire ten kids in the DeLaria family. You were quiet, smiling, welcoming, warm, loving, willing to share your home with others & invite them in as friends. You were #3 & I was #10. I'll always think of you as my Big Bro.

With Love & Prayers for all the DeLarias
A. Lorraine DeLaria Rogers

Dale & Peggy Caesar

August 12, 2014

We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends in their time of sorrow in the passing of one of the finest men I had the pleasure of knowing. Rest in peace my old friend, God will be with you. Dale & Peggy Caesar.

Cedric Rogers

August 12, 2014

Bob and Jerry made Lorraine and I welcome when we wanted to see him and his family and to visit St. Louis. He introduced us to pork steaks which he cooked. He was one of the best examples of a husband in love that one could imagine.

Dear Bob, you were such a memorable person that we will miss you sorely even though we hardly knew you. Your light shone as an example to us and I for one will remember and follow.

Mary Sickles

August 11, 2014

Lea,
So sorry to read about your precious father's passing. Thinking of your family today.

Paul Agne

August 11, 2014

To my extended family,
So sorry to hear of Bob's passing. My deepest sympathy to the Delaria family.

We considered Bob and Jerry to be our Uncle and Aunt from our being old enough to know them..
Our late brother, Robert George Agne was very proud of his Italian godfather.

You're all in our thoughts and prayers.

Pam Moore

August 11, 2014

Uncle Bob was a wonderful, kind man. He is one of my best memories as a child. A great sense of humor and always easy going. He will be missed by all.

To the rest of the family my thoughts are with you. I wish I could be with you. Please know I'm thinking of you all very fondly.

Monsignor John Myler

August 11, 2014

May Bob rest in peace.

Baltimore "Zoomerang" (fundraiser) Rob as senior designer and announced entry into "Who's Who if Interior Design" with Chambers Design Company.

David, Robert DeLaria, D'Aigle

August 10, 2014

What a long successful happy life Bob had with his wife Jerry and with the added joy of this children. Not without life trials but courageously overcome. I think in particular his son Bradley's life long heart problem but overcome with a loving marriage and a lovely child before Brad passed on. Bob, always with joy and optimism, faced so much with his family and happily I observe his open and friendly approach evident in all his children. We went our separate ways Bob and I, but always kept in touch. I admired him greatly and can say that I loved him and will miss him.

Brother David John D.

Lorraine Rogers

August 9, 2014

Dear DeLaria Family: Bob was no.3, I was no.10 in a family of 10 children. I am a mere 6yrs. older than you, Thana...Strange. I feel more like you are bros. & sisters than "Aunt Lorraine."

My brother Bob was always calm, pleasant, cheerful, loving, without being "wishy-washy." Your album photos are great! When I look at them I see your uncles Clifford (next in age to me, died at age 17), David,Jim (a little), your aunt Louise, & your grandpa, Jim DeLaria as a young man. What a wonderful tribute to Bob, a talented pianist who got that talent from his Mom, our mother, Dorothea DeLaria.

James Ferreri

August 9, 2014

What a great guy. I am happy to have known him.

Philip Agne

August 9, 2014

Goodbye Bob. Thought you were my uncle for years. You were really closer than that. You were like another dad when I was little.

To all you kids. Sorry for your loss. How lucky you were to have this man for a father.

Showing 1 - 19 of 19 results