Brendan F. McNeill

Brendan Francis McNeill, of Dublin, Ireland and Chicago, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home in Chicago on December 22, 2025, surrounded by family after fighting the good fight following a cancer diagnosis three years ago.

Brendan was born in County West Meath and was raised in Sandymount, D4, Ireland by his loving mother Mary Ellen nee Hunt and grew up with his three brothers, Martin (Anne), Sean (Noreen), and Eamonn (Mary). At the age of fourteen, he emigrated to London after a brief stop in Blackpool, England. In London, he made his way, working at the renowned Scott's restaurant in Piccadilly Circus and forging lifelong friendships.

In 1961, when he was just nineteen, Brendan and his Irish and Canadian friends set sail for North America, arriving in Toronto, where they continued their friendships and settled down in Canada. Soon after, Brendan began working at Eaton's Department Store, learning the business of fabrics and fashion.

There, at Eaton's, he met Valerie Brady, and they married in 1970. They relocated to Kingston, Ontario, where Brendan eventually opened a chain of fabric stores. Valerie and Brendan had four children in Kingston, Mary Elizabeth, Bridget Kathleen, Margo Ann, and the late Ryan Francis.

In 1979, Brendan and Valerie moved their family to Chicago, settling in Park Ridge, IL. In Chicago, Brendan began a new career, opening his first Irish pub in Portage Park in 1980. Brendan and Valerie joined the Mary, Seat of Wisdom parish, where the girls attended elementary school.

In 1987, Brendan opened the Emerald Isle pub in Edison Park, before setting his sights on downtown Chicago, where he opened Lizzie McNeill's, Bridget McNeill's, and D4 Irish Pub and Cafe in the Streeterville neighborhood.

Brendan met Deborah Zalesiak in 1995, and they built a home and a life together that lasted over thirty years, filled with family and friends in Streeterville. Together they worked hard to build a successful business, making D4 Irish Pub & Cafe a welcoming neighborhood staple. Brendan and Debbie enjoyed a second home together in New Buffalo, Michigan, their favorite escape from the City. Brendan's contentedness in life was anchored by his loving relationship with Deborah. They enjoyed travel and many holidays with Deborah's sister, Christine Zalesiak and husband Steve Kotz, as well as cherished cousins and extended family.

He took such great joy in his role as grandfather, always there on the sidelines cheering his nine grandchildren on. He adored Siobhan O'Sullivan, Liam O'Sullivan, John O'Sullivan, Jane Roche, Henry Roche, Eloise Moore, Valerie Moore, Una Fitzgerald, and Francis Fitzgerald, and they adored him. This year, Brendan welcomed his first great-grandchild, Brendan O'Sullivan, to the world, and could not have been happier to be honored with a namesake. They will all miss their Gramps dearly.

Over the years, Brendan enjoyed meeting and bonding with all the new members of his family, including his sons-in-law Eamon O'Sullivan, Terrence Roche, and David Moore and more recently welcoming Vito Partipilo into the family as well as his grandson-in-law-to-be, Nathen Clemente and his grand-daughter-in-law, Grace nee McNamara O'Sullivan.

In life, Brendan was a giant amongst men, revered and cherished. In death, he will be celebrated, his legacy lasting many generations to come.

Friends and family will gather Saturday, December 27, 2025 9:30 am with prayers beginning promptly at 10:00 am at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 South Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL and will then proceed to Mary, Seat of Wisdom, 920 Granville Avenue, Park Ridge, IL for an 11:00 am Funeral Mass, celebrating his life, well-lived. A live-stream of the funeral mass will be available here.

You can sign Brendan's register here.

Funeral information please call (847) 823-1171 or visit ryan-parke.com