Thomas B. Donovan

THOMAS B DONOVAN

Age 83, of Frankfort, passed away Friday, June 20, 2025 at Palos Community hospital surrounded by his loving family.

Tom grew up on the south side of Chicago as the oldest of 6 children, and he met his “Darling Angel” Christy while they were in high school. He graduated from St. Felicitas grade school, Leo High School, Loyola University and Loyola University Law School. He was a well-respected estate-planning attorney, is a retired partner from Winston & Strawn law firm as well as having been on staff for other firms, and most recently ran his own Thomas B. Donovan Law Offices in Frankfort. He was a member of the Chicago Bar Association for over 50 years as well as serving on committees of the Illinois State, American, and Federal Bar Associations.

More important to Tom than work was his faith and devotion to God, and he lived that faith in action every day of his life. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church since the family moved to Frankfort in 1978, where he volunteered in so many capacities over the years. He especially loved to bring communion to the homebound, visit the sick in hospitals, and take shifts in the Adoration Chapel. He was also a member of many prayer groups, including Infant Jesus of Prague prayer group and St. Anthony’s Holy Spirit Prayer Group. He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Assembly 2174. Tom lived his entire adult life in service. While he often ended up in leadership positions within his faith communities, he did it because he believed strongly in serving his community and so much of what he did for others was quiet and behind the scenes.

Most important of all to Tom was his family. He married his high school sweetheart and together they created a huge loving family community. Tom was most proud of his title of Dad and Grandpa/Peepaw to his 11 children, 15 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Despite all of his work and commitments, he always took time to show his family that they were the most important part of his life. At all times he expressed his absolute and unconditional love to his wife, his children and all of their children. His sisters and brothers were full recipients of that same huge love, as were the friends he collected all along his journey through life. There was no one quite like him on this earth, and he will be greatly missed by so many.

Tom is survived by his loving family, children James Donovan, Carol Donovan, Mary (Randall) Kolacki, Michael (Michelle Prosser) Donovan, Cathleen Rankovich, William (Melanie Zanini) Donovan, John (Amanda) Donovan, Eileen (Anthony) Capodice, Laura Donovan, Thomas Donovan, Anne Donovan; sister Deborah (Stephen) Dexter, brothers Robert Donovan, Kevin Donovan, and Paul Donovan; grandchildren Kylie Kolacki, Ryan Kolacki, Mikaela (Donnie) Hank, Sean (Tyler) Donovan, Colton (Victoria) Donovan, Kylie Zanini, Lindsay Zanini, Whitney Zanini, Ian Donovan, Santino Capodice, Matthew Braccio, Charles Donovan, Thomas Donovan, Kelsey Donovan, Christy Donovan; great-grandchildren Avery Hank, Emma Hank, Noah Donovan; and several nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his loving wife and partner Christy; parents, John & Helen Donovan, sister Joan Donovan, and grandson David Donovan as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, IL 60423 on Thursday, June 26th, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Funeral service Friday, June 27th, 2025 with prayers at the funeral home at 9:30 AM and then to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 7659 Sauk Trail, Frankfort, IL 60423 for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Interment, Holy Sepulcher Cemetary, Alsip IL.