Community Mourns Loss of Mark Smith, 57, of Geneva

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. Saturday, May 18, until the time of the funeral service at 10 a.m. at the Congregational United Church of Christ, 40W451 Fox Mill Boulevard, St. Charles.

Longtime Genevan, 1974 graduation of Geneva High School and the husband of Kane County Associate Judge Katherine Moran died unexpectedly Wednesday at the age of 57. “It was with profound sadness that we learned of the unexpected and tragic death of Mark Smith, husband of Kane County Associate Judge Katherine Moran," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said in a released statement Thursday. “We grieve with her and her family and offer them our unbending support during this very difficult time.” Smith died Wednesday May 15, 2013 at Delnor Community Hospital, Geneva surrounded by his family and friends, according to an obituary on the Malone Funeral Home website. He was born Jan. 14, 1956, in Nevada, IA, and was a die-hard Iowa Hawkeyes …

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Geneva Grad Raymond Kaligian III Dies in Tragic Accident in Houston

A memorial service in Geneva is Thursday following the death of the 2003 Geneva High School graduate, golf and baseball player and "rising star" in Phillips 66.

Visitation will be held Wednesday and a memorial service will be held Thursday in Geneva for Raymond Kiligian III, 28, who died unexpectedly Feb. 17 in his Houston, TX, townhome. The visitation will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Yurs Funeral Home in Geneva. The memorial service is schedule for 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at the funeral home. Kaligian moved to Geneva in third grade and graduated from Geneva High School in 2003, according to his obituary on the Yurs Funeral Home website. At GHS, he was conference golf champion in 2002 and was named to the all-conference baseball team his junior and senior years, the obituary says. He was a member of the National Honor Society and a Key Club member, and he was named …

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Beloved Geneva Alderman Ralph Dantino Dies at His Home

Geneva's 5th Ward alderman dies at his home in Geneva after a long battle with a rare appendix cancer.

Geneva 5th Ward alderman Ralph Dantino died Monday, Feb. 18, on Presidents Day 2013 at his home, surrounded by family and friends. Third Ward Alderman Dean Kilburg passed along the sad news with a brief statement at about 1:03 p.m. "It is with a deep sadness that I share that Ralph passed away today at his home here in Geneva. Ralph fought a gallant battle with his cancer over the last four years," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy and their children, Tom and Sara Sheridan, Russell, Lindsey and Drew." Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns offered heartfelt condolences, as well. "Geneva has lost another of it's long-time friends and tireless advocate for our community," he said. "Mr. Dantino's contributions were many and his commitment …

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Longtime Batavia Alderman Chuck Beckman Dies at 84

He served for 30 years. Here is visitation and service information.

Charles “Chuck” Elmer Beckman Jr., 84, lifelong resident of Batavia passed away Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at Jennings Terrance in Aurora, IL. He was born January 15, 1929, in Aurora the son of Charles and Margaret (nee Mahara) Beckman. Chuck was united in marriage to his grammar school friend and sweetheart Norma Allison August 4, 1948 at the Covenant Church in Batavia. Chuck was a loving family man, adored his church, and was extremely compassionate about the city of Batavia. Chuck dropped out of school following eighth grade. Being the oldest of seven children he went to working odd jobs at the age of 14. Not to be outdone by his own children, Chuck finished his high school degree and obtained his GED weeks prior to his oldest child's …

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Geneva Preservationist Janet Safanda Will Be Remembered With Concert Saturday

Longtime Geneva historic preservationist Janet Safanda, who loved music, will be remembered in a short concert Saturday, Aug. 11, at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church.

Janet Wright Safanda loved music. And so she will be remembered Saturday with a short concert by the Orion Ensemble at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church. Safanda, 72, died Saturday, Aug. 4, at her home in Geneva. She was born to William and Margaret Wright in El Paso, Texas, and spent her childhood in Texas, and Kansas, according to her Yurs Funeral Home obituary. Safanda was a champion of historic preservation in Geneva, and one of the founders of the Geneva Preservation Commission. She was a gifted teacher of young and old, and taught at Oak Park-River Forest High School and Elgin Academy. For two decades, she worked as a management development consultant for Andersen Consulting, Accenture, McDonald’s Corporation and Time-Warner Cable. …

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Tri-Cities Death Notices, July 10

Obituaries with memorial services and visitations in St. Charles and other area funeral homes.

Malone Funeral Home, Geneva Moss-Norris Funeral Home, St. Charles Yurs Funeral Home, Geneva Patch Funeral Home Guide Are you looking for more information about Tri-Cities funeral homes and services? Would you care to review the services provided by a local funeral home? Click on the funeral home names to see the Patch Places listing for each business to write a review or learn more about the funeral home. Batavia Geneva St. Charles

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Inside Geneva: Rick Nagel

On the Web: Former Longtime Harrison Street School Teacher Bill Johnson Dies at 87

The Kane County Chronicle story notes Mr. Johnson's contributions to the Boy Scouts. I'll always remember him as the teacher at Harrison Street School.

I never got to have Mr. Johnson as a teacher. And it's still one of the big (but very few) disappointments of my grade-school days at Harrison Street School in Geneva. I read in the Kane County Chronicle that Bill Johnson died at the age of 87. (Really nice story by Ashley Rhodebeck, datelined St. Charles.) God bless him and his family, because Mr. Johnson was one of those people who build a life around helping kids learn, grow and develop into better people and adults. There's no better calling or achievement in life, when you stop to think about it. Everyone at Harrison Street School looked forward to being in Mr. Johnson's class, for a lot of reasons. Being in the sixth grade meant you'd made it, as the Sinatra song goes—top of the list…

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