Francis J. "Frank" Phelan

Francis "Frank" J. Phelan passed away peacefully at his home in Chicago on February 20, 2023, at the age of 89.
He was born in Aurora, Illinois, during the early years of the Great Depression. As a child, he lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while his father worked on designing and building the Burlington Zephyr at the Budd Company. It was these early years in Philadelphia eating Bookbinder's soup and learning about American History with his father that formulated Frank's career aspirations to become an attorney. During his childhood, Frank's family returned to Aurora, Illinois, where he graduated from Marmion Military Academy in 1951. Frank briefly attended DePaul University night school in Chicago while working at his family's grocery store to save money to move to New York City to attend Fordham University, from which he earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1956. He obtained his law degree at Fordham University School of Law in 1959. In Manhattan, New York City, he initiated his legal career at a prestigious Maritime law firm. In 1960, he moved back to Illinois and commenced the rest of his professional career in the automobile insurance industry, where he met his wife, Ethel; rose to the level of Chief Executive Officer (CEO); and ultimately went on to start another auto insurance company.
Frank was an avid downhill skier; loved horses and cars; and relished traveling, farming, and being in the great outdoors, from his home in suburban Chicago to his favorite place in Wisconsin. For the past few years, he has enjoyed living in Chicago near his daughter, son-in-law, and triplet grandchildren and seeing them daily.
He is survived by a daughter, Dr. Julie Phelan; a son-in-law, Michael Mathew; and triplet grandchildren, Anne, Amelia, and Benjamin Mathew.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel M. Phelan; two sisters, Joanne Phelan-Ross and Patricia (Phelan) Rangel; half-sister, Merita (Phelan) Mosley; father, Michael "Mickey" J. Phelan; mother, Helen E. (Bean) Phelan; and stepmother, Mary M. Phelan.
Along with being the lifelong love of his wife, Ethel, Frank was an admired and respected father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and uncle (a/k/a "Uncle Fran"), as well as a mentor, colleague, and friend to many in the insurance industry.
Family and friends will meet on Monday, February 27, 2023, at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654, for a 9:30 a.m. Visitation, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass. Free parking for Holy Name Cathedral is available at 14 W. Superior Street (between Dearborn Street and State Street). Please utilize any non-reserved parking space on Lower Level One (LL1) or Lower Level Two (LL2). Interment private at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Aurora, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Frank's favorite charity, Misericordia, 6300 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60660, www.misericordia.com, 773-273-2744.
For further information please call 312-421-0936.