William J. Darras

Loving husband of his late wife, Violette, devoted father to sons James (Georgia), Chris (Jean) and Nick (Maureen) and cherished grandfather to Christina, Billy and Dori. Bill is preceded in death by the late, proud father, James, proud mother, Panagiota "Pauline" Darras and as a beloved brother to late sisters Lulu, Edna (Nicholas), Lucille (George), Frieda (James) and Catherine (John).

Yes, together we mourn, yet today we celebrate Bill's passing into the Hands of God. We celebrate Bill's life and achievements as a loving provider to his wife, sons and daughters-in-law, as a loving uncle to his many nieces and nephews, as a loving grandfather to his three grandchildren and equally, as a most successful, hard-working businessman. We also celebrate Bill as a truly genuine, caring man to so many people he befriended throughout his life.

One day during his 30-year career with Weber Marking Systems, our dad was on a business trip traveling internationally in 1985, on board TWA Flight 847, scheduled to depart Athens, Greece for Rome, Italy. He had spent a day in Athens to visit his cousin with whom he regularly called in order to stay in touch with our Greek relatives. Before departing for the flight to Rome, however, the plane was hijacked by Lebanese terrorists who commandeered the pilot at gunpoint to fly the plane to Beirut, Lebanon. After seventeen grueling days of diplomatic talks between United States and Lebanese officials, all of the hostages were safely returned to Chicago without casualties.

However, this ordeal did not phase our dad to any permanent extent. Bill's love of God, love of country, military training and personal fortitude prevailed throughout all of the remaining 96 years of his life. He went on to become a 3-time trophy winner at the game of 3-cushion billiards, mastering the art of the gentleman's game. Bill saw active duty in the United States Army Air Corps as a pilot during WWII. As a veteran, he will be honored with a flag-draped casket and bugler, both for his volunteering into the army during a time of war and for his courage maintained throughout those war years and then subsequently throughout his hostage ordeal.

On one occasion while visiting our dad, shortly after the televised funeral of George H. W. Bush in 2018, we told dad that Mike Pence, our Vice President at the time, while giving a eulogy about President Bush, told how the former president touched the life of Pence's young son who had just earned his wings as an Air Force cadet. Ironically, Cadet Pence was stationed aboard the George H. W. Bush aircraft carrier. Pence said his son received a shore-to-ship telegram from the former president, congratulating him for his flight training achievement. Cadet Pence said he knew the telegram was from the president personally, because there was a handwritten acronym on it, a code known mainly amongst pilots…."CAVU". Our dad recognized the code and recited it to us. So Dad, as a former Army Air Corps cadet, now ascending into the Heavens to join Mom, we ALL wish you CAVU…."Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited!"

Due to the varying conditions associated with the current Covid-19 pandemic, a private service will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation in Bill's memory to St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church, 133 S. Roselle Road, Palatine, IL 60067-5855.