Joe DeMay

1933 - 2015

Joe DeMay

Born: Oct. 22, 1933

Died: July 31, 2015

Joe DeMay, 81, of Sun City Huntley passed away Friday, July 31, 2015, at Fair Oaks Health Care Center in Crystal Lake with his family at his side.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home-10763 Dundee Road, Huntley. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Church- Huntley. There will be visitation at Church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery.

Born October 22, 1933, in Palermo, Sicily, he was the son of Vincenzo and Vincenza Chichirillo Iannacco. His father passed away in 1935. Later his mother married Anthony DeMay and the family moved to Jeannette, PA. In the summer of 1951 they relocated to Harvard, IL.

After graduating from Harvard High School in 1953, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was stationed at the U.S. Navy Atomic Testing Base outside of Las Vegas for two years. On September 1, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Judy Simonini, at St. Joseph's Church in Harvard.

Joe was employed by Admiral Television Corporation in Harvard in various management positions from 1956 until the plant's closing in 1980. He then was Quality Control Manager at General Power and Equipment for twelve years.

He served as Harvard Community Credit Union President and Treasurer for 30 years Joe was active in a number of civic matters including serving as a Harvard City Alderman for 23 years and City Treasurer for 7 years. He was Chairman of Harvard's Bicentennial Commission in honor of our nation's Bicentennial celebration; and heavily involved in Harvard's annual Milk Days, serving as General Chairman, Parade Chairman and on their Executive Board for 20 years. He was a member of the Harvard Lions Club for 30 years with 28 years of perfect attendance and received the 1969 Harvard Jay-Cee Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of the Harvard Moose Lodge for 35 years, member of the Harvard Historical Society and served on the Harvard Library Board for 7 years, and the Chamber of Commerce Board.

In 1999 Joe and Judy moved to Sun City in Huntley to enjoy their retirement years. While there he was a charter member of the Italian American Club, served as president of the Pinochle Club and a member of the Bocce Club, Bowling Club and Polish Club. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Huntley He and Judy loved to travel and particularly enjoyed cruising. They travelled within the United States and to many countries around the world. His interests included playing pinochle, golf, bocce, and was a talented artist and a great cook. Joe possessed a wonderful sense of humor, had a beautiful smile, an outgoing personality and a zest for enjoying life. He made friends wherever he went but his greatest love was of his family.

He is survived by his wife, Judy; his daughter, Debbie Reising of McHenry; his son, Joe (Kendra) of Lake in the Hills; grandchildren, Angela Reising, Steve (Sonia) Reising and Tatum DeMay; and his great-grandchildren, Giovanni, Giada and Georgia Reising. He is also survived by his brother, Tony of Harvard; brothers-in-law, Bob (Jennet) Simonini and Bill (Mary Jane) Simonini; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his parents-in-law, Louis and Esther Simonini.

The family wants to extend special thanks to the staff at Fair Oaks Health Care Center for the wonderful care they provided Joe these past five years.

Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or to St. Mary's Catholic Church of Huntley.