Jerome Patrick "Jerry" Craven

Jerome Patrick "Jerry" Craven passed away January 27, 2026, in Wheaton, Illinois, at the age of 86, following a brief illness, with family by his side.

He was born on March 24, 1939, at St. Bernard's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, to Thomas and Patricia, nee Horgan Craven, who preceded him in death. He was the brother of Steve (Cathy) Craven, the late Thomas and Barb Craven, Francis "Frank" and Helen Craven, Mary and George Liskewicz, Eugene and Patrica Craven, and Patricia "Patsy" and Bill Ryan.

Jerry attended Leo High School and was a gifted athlete with an aptitude for golf and basketball, passions he carried with him most of his life. He often talked about scraping up every dollar he had to play a round of golf as a young man. Later, he could describe the memorable round he played at Pebble Beach 60 years ago as if it were yesterday.

After graduation, Jerry enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1957 and was stationed in the San Francisco Bay area for the duration of his service. Upon his honorable discharge, Jerry returned to Chicago. He joined Local 134 of the IBEW and worked as a telephone repairman, then later as a lineman with Illinois Bell. Many predicted Jerry would never marry, especially after a long-time girlfriend received an electric blanket for Christmas instead of a much-anticipated diamond engagement ring.

All bets were off, though, when in 1968, he met Marie Burns through their mutual friend Pat Carroll. Their second date was at a large, extended Craven family party. Upon meeting Marie's family, her mother, Dorothy, asked Jerry if he was the son of Thomas and Patricia Craven. When Jerry responded yes, Mrs. Burns shared that she and his mother had been roommates at St. Bernard's Hospital 25 years earlier, when Marie was born, and Patricia gave birth to Jerry's sister, Patsy.

Jerry proposed six months later, and the two were married in June of 1969. Their first apartment was at 59th and Mozart, where their first child, Annmarie, was born in 1970. Days before her first birthday, they bought their first home in St Thomas More. The three-bedroom, one-bath home quickly filled up. By 1975, four more children were born. Friends and family joked that Jerry prayed so hard for a son, God sent him twin boys.

Shortly after he was wed, Jerry followed in his brothers' Frank and Gene's footsteps and joined the Chicago Fire Department. Jerry was a proud and active member of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2. Following consecutive years of major fires, the epic Blizzard of 1979, and an unrealized campaign promise for a contract, Jerry and the "Brotherhood of the Barrel" began the first-ever firefighter strike on Feb. 14, 1980. Jerry set up a hotline for his fellow firefighters and their spouses. After 23 days, they held Mayor Jane Byrne to her word and secured the union's first-ever contract. Jerry spent a large part of his career as a firefighter and the "firehouse cook" at Engine 121 at 95th and Charles, in the Beverly Neighborhood. His legendary chili was the subject of much curiosity.

During his years with CFD, like many firefighters working 24 hours on and 48 hours off, Jerry always had a side job. After receiving a certificate in TV and antenna repair, Jerry started his first of two businesses. TVs and radios sat partially assembled atop his huge, wooden, handcrafted workbench. Jerry spent hours tinkering with a tube or wire. Forgotten full coffee and tea cups were evidence of his focus. Many abandoned or half-working sets took residence in the basement TV cabinet, where his frustrated kids found more channels filled with black-and-white static than television shows.

After years of working multiple side jobs, Jerry started his own company, M&J Communications, in the mid-80s. With an endorsement from St. Thomas More parish pastor Fr. Donlan, Jerry installed dozens of Comdial phone systems in rectories throughout Chicago and other small businesses.

As a member of St. Thomas More parish, he and Marie were active in the Holy Name Society and the Altar Guild, respectively. With Marie as a minister of communion and Jerry as a commentator, together their two sets of eyes joined the celebrant's and ensured that the five Craven children sitting in the front pew every Sunday remained well-behaved.

Jerry's Catholic faith was equal to his strong sense of civic duty. In the years following the firefighter strike, he unsuccessfully ran against the incumbent for 18th Ward Alderman and Ward Committeeman. While fewer than 100 votes stood between him and a win, he was ultimately grateful he lost, lest he become beholden to the political machinery of the time. But he continued to follow politics closely and did not suffer fools, whether the "nitwits" were at the local, state, or national level.

Jerry took great pride in his family, his Southside Irish roots, a strong Union job, a solid drive off the tee, a Pepperidge Farm cookie (or three), a good cigar, a well-cooked ribeye, and a well-manicured lawn. When he and Marie moved from St. Thomas More to St. Bede's in the mid-1990s, Jerry's green thumb flourished in the absence of a swimming pool. Miracle-Gro found a home in a watering can from which he doused his beloved rosebushes, dahlias, impatiens, begonias, and tomato plants, while watching planes fly into Midway airport and listening to Andrea Bocelli. At their new home, Jerry and Marie hosted holidays, showers, and more. New Year's Eve regularly brought family and friends together, especially their pals from St. Thomas More.

After retiring from the fire department in 1997 and remaining an active member of IBEW Local 134, Jerry took up convention work at McCormick Place for nearly 15 years. He loved that job and was grateful for the new opportunity. He especially enjoyed the crew he worked with; as the oldest one of the bunch, he appreciated them keeping him young at heart.

Soon after Jerry celebrated his 70th birthday, he decided to retire officially. He and Marie quickly filled that time traveling throughout the United States, visiting National Parks and casinos, and spending their winter months in sunny Florida. He'd often say, "Why go overseas when there is so much to see here?"

Over the last few years of Jerry's life, his health began to decline, and he required additional assistance. The family is grateful to the University of Chicago's oncology department, specifically Dr. Murtuza Rampurwala and his staff. His team's compassion for our strong-willed father will always be appreciated. Lastly, the family would like to recognize the DuPage Care Center, which cared for our Dad over the past year. Sneha and her team were our angels and forever in our hearts.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marie (nee Burns) Craven, his daughters Annmarie (Michael) Savitski, Karen Craven, and Jennine Craven, his sons Kevin (Jami) Craven, and Brian (Maura) Craven. He took enormous pride in the bonds of his growing family, beaming as he watched his grandchildren, Taylor Craven, Thomas Craven, Bridget Finco, Michael Craven, Fiona Craven, Hannigan Chambers, and Claire Chambers grow up over the years.

Jerry will be greatly missed by all. As Jerry often said, "C'est la vie."

Family will greet friends and neighbors on Friday, February 6, from 9 am to 10 am until the memorial Mass at 10 am at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 8200 S. Kostner Avenue, Chicago.

Inurnment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, consider planting some of your own this summer. The family suggests that donations can be made in Jerry's honor to: Misericordia Foundation, 6300 N. Ridge, Chicago, IL 60660, or www.misericordia.org; DuPage Care Center Foundation 400 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187, or https://dpccfoundation.org/; The Courage Program, 9711 S. Kolin Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453, or https://www.courageprogram.org/.

Arrangements made by Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home.