Alfred P. Piccirilli

Alfred P. Piccirilli, 80, Rockford, passed away at Anam Glen on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. He was born August 24, 1944, in Rockford, the son of Egidio and Vita (Ciaccio) Piccirilli. Alfred was a veteran serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War. After his discharge from the Navy, Al met and married Sheila Chennilaro and began his metal drafting career at Architectural Iron. They had two daughters together that Al cherished more than anything. He then co-founded and owned Bethel Steel, an architectural metal company in Rockford. Bethel Steel was a significant source of pride and achievement for him and he shared that joy with his family and friends, including bringing his daughters to the office with him on weekends to “organize" office supplies and play basketball with him in the parking lot. Al was an eternal optimist, focused, loving, and possessed incredible grit. He had a sense of humor like no other and left us with countless stories. He always showed up for important moments, gave freely all that he had, and always made time to say how much he loved you. His legacy lives on in all that he taught those who knew him.

Al was a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church and leaned into his faith all of his life. Alfred was an avid Bears fan and season ticket holder for over 40 years, loved cars and playing bocce ball at the St. Ambrogio Club, enjoyed traveling and all the Italian food he could get his hands on, and deeply adored his childhood, family, and friends from South Rockford.

He is survived by his daughters, Stephanie (Michael Plancon) Piccirilli and Lori (George) Gouriotis; his grandchildren, Payton and Brady Wernet, George, Alec and Anthony Gouriotis; his brother, Anthony (Kathye) Piccirilli and his sister, Bernice (Tom) Marinelli; his nieces and nephew, Lisa (Chad) Capista, Ralph (Kim) Piccirilli, Nicole Erickson, Erin Erickson, and their beautiful children; special family members, Mike Wernet and Karen Gouriotis, There are endless Ciaccio and Piccirilli cousins and South Rockford friends who meant the world to him. Al had an impact on many people throughout his life, personally and professionally, and always showed care to everyone he met. 

We would like to share a special thank you to the staff at the Bickford, Anam Glen, especially Joan who tirelessly went to visit dad throughout all of his hospital stays; Don, Coco and Grace who helped take care of him, and the incredible doctors who guided him through his cancer journey. And most of all, his sister Bernice who was his and is our angel here on earth and whom we could not have traveled this path without -we love you.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, October 28, 2024, at St. Bridget Catholic Church, 600 Clifford Av. Loves Park with Monsignor Steve Knox officiating. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until 10:15 A.M. on Monday at the church. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.