Douglas Frank Spesia

Douglas Frank Spesia Douglas Frank Spesia died peacefully at his home, surrounded with love, on June 18th after a ten year battle with prostate cancer. His life was marked by faith, patriotism, kindness, and generosity. The son of the late Frank and Marie (Gasparich) Spesia, he was born October 11, 1940 in Joliet where he lived his entire life. A graduate of Sacred Heart Grade School, Joliet Catholic High School, the University of Illinois, and the University of Notre Dame Law School. Proud member of Joliet's first all-star team which played in the 1953 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. On June 12, 1965, he married Loretta Wiesbrook and joined the oldest law firm in Joliet which is now Spesia & Ayers. He had a distinguished and rewarding forty-five year career as an attorney, and spent his adult life involved in the Cathedral of St. Raymond parish. An active volunteer, he served on the boards of many organizations including: President of the Joliet Montessori School Board, past President of the Will County Bar Association, President of the Joliet Rotary Club and host of exchange students, founding member of the Will County Community Foundation, and a committed supporter of Catholic Charities' Daybreak Shelter. An avid reader whose wide range of interests led to a life of incredible travel--from family camping across the United States and Canada to world-wide trips with dear friends that covered six continents. He particularly enjoyed retreats to Christ in the Desert Monastery in New Mexico, and two mission trips to Malawi, East Africa. Above all Doug was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. Survived by his beloved wife, Loretta, four devoted children, and eighteen adored grandchildren: David and daughter-in-law Tracy (O'Mara), Elizabeth, Francis, Margaret, Timothy, Teresa; John and daughter-in-law Mary (Horas), Cecilia, Peter, Maria; Christian and daughter-in-law Meredith (Anzelc), Christian, Catherine, Stella, Gabriel, Grace, Andrew; daughter Sarah and son-in-law George Valaika, George, John, Julia, Justin. Also survived by dear brother Ronald (Rosemarie) Spesia, and by brothers and sisters-in-law Donald (Rita), David (Sis), Philip (Mary), James (Georgene), Mary and Arthur Wiesbrook, and Helene (Nick) Smiar. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Thomas Wiesbrook and sister-in-law Lucy (Jerome) Heitkotter. The family would like to thank Doug's dedicated team of doctors at the University of Chicago Hospital of whom he had deep admiration, as well as the staff of the Joliet Area Community Hospice for their care and concern. Funeral from the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home, Tuesday June 22, 2010 at 10:15 a.m. to the Cathedral of St. Raymond for Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Romeoville. Visitation Monday 1-8 p.m. Memorials to the Will County Community Foundation, for the benefit of the Douglas and Loretta Spesia Charitable fund (all funds will be directed to Father Philip Mbeta's Mission in Malawi, Africa), or the Daybreak Shelter in Joliet. Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag 1500 Black Rd. near Midland 815-744-4444 www.bgsfuneralhome.com