Joseph T. Cesario, of Elmhurst, proceeded in death seven days earlier by his beloved wife, Genevieve B. Cesario, nee Stachnik; retired Attorney at Law for over 50 years honored by the Illinois State Bar Association for his pro bono service; former City of Elmhurst Alderman and Member/Chairman of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners; active member of the Democratic Party of DuPage County; graduate of Marquette University and Northwestern University School of Law; loving father of Joseph R. (Ellen), Andrew (Diane), Katie (Chris Newitt) Cesario, Mary (Jeffrey) Harrold, and Amy Cesario; proud grandfather of Elijah, Lily Rose, Rocco, Aza, Charles, Lauren, and Casey; dear brother of William (Kathryn), James (Cindy), Marguerite (Frank) Dixon, Jeanne (James) Czerwinski, John (Paulette), and Michael (Stacy); dear brother-in-law of John (Mary) Stachnik; and fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Friends and family are invited to meet Saturday, 10:45 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 134 Arthur Street, Elmhurst. Interment Private. Livestream link and information to reserve your space for Mass available through the funeral home website. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to IC Catholic Prep, 217 Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126. (Gifts will fund the new ICCP Library in memory of Joe and Gen) or the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, 5526 West 13400 South, #510, Herriman, Utah 84096. Arrangements handled by Gibbons Funeral Home, Elmhurst. 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com.
Livestream Link available here https://youtu.be/9BbeUdHLUJk
To reserve your seat for Mass please email your name and number attending to rsvp@icelmhurst.org
Steve and Bonnie Sovern
Fond farewell sweet Genny and Joe. You will be so dearly missed, our 50 year friends. We weren’t able to be together often enough but so enjoyed our telephonic commiserations over politics and over the years. So happy you were able to see the results of the recent presidential election and know that you had a big hand in developing Democratic turnout that contributed to that success. We love knowing of your eternal caress by the hand of God and in the arms of each other.
Bruce and Sue Christenson
Our sincere condolences to the Cesario family. They are at peace,together, knowing they left a great legacy to carry on in their memory.
Carla Cesario
My sincerest and deepest condolences to the Cesario family.
Andrew Cesario
My eulogy to Joe from the church service, as I understand some in the church could not hear and the streaming servie did not pickup the sound.
Thank you for coming to celebrate the life of my father. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his five children, his grandchildren, and the love they had for him. He died in the home he built back in 1975 with the help of his family, his father, brothers, and cousins. I remember playing on the dirt piles and around the construction site while he worked long hours to provide a home for his wife Genny and his 5 kids.
My dad was an incredibly hard worker. Putting in long hours as an attorney, diligently detailing his cases with a fountain pen like an artist with a brush. He was passionate about helping people, about doing what was right and would fight to defend his family and clients in court every day. One time when we were kids, Dad dropped my sister Kate and I off at the tennis courts to hit for an hour, the courts were busy so we put our rackets on the rack and waited our turn. When we got out on the court and were hitting for a few minutes an adult came out on the court and started scolding us to let the adults have the courts because kids could play during the day. However, we were there first and dad had told us to hit. The guy stood in on the court to block us, and not knowing what to do we just said to each other, “just keep hitting, run around him”. There were some guys playing horseshoes behind the courts who turner to watch, saying “Leave the kids alone” through the fence. My dad pulled up at that time and came out on the court to see what was going on, the guy was irate by this time and told him that his brats should play during the day, but dad backed us and said were there first. They guy made the mistake of trying to get in the way of or grab my sister and Dad levelled him right there on the court, defending his family and what was right. The guy called the police, and dad told us to keep hitting as he waited for and went right up to the police car to tell them what happened.
Dad brought his passion to his relationships. He made deep connections. He loved people’s stories and the details of their lives. He held an inseparable bond with his brother Bill, best friends start to finish. He had a special relationship with each of his kids, made stronger in the recent months as we spent time with him during his illness. Dad had great lifelong friendships from high school and college some of whom came across the country just to visit in the yard at a distance for a few hours. He found his Italian cousin Frank and forged a beautiful friendship. He made friends across the globe like Luigi from Positano Italy, who will always hold Joe’s table overlooking the Mediterranean.
Cancer was his greatest fight. He didn’t have to, but he chose to fight for the life he had left. Nine months of pain and discomfort, yet he held strong. I stood next to him at the grave of his wife, and he was in great pain but stood strong.
In the following days, when he was in the hospital the doctor asked him how he was and he responded with ‘spiritually inspired’ as he listened to his favorite music and talked with his caring daughter Amy. In pain, but in awe of the beauty of life, love and the people he knew. He commented that everyone who comes into your life does so for a reason. He was powerfully and passionately overwhelmed by the circle of life and the deep understanding to see it all.
Yes, he won his fight through cancer which died with his body while Joe lives on in the faces, the memories, and stories of those gathered near and far for him today.
Martin Stachnik
Thank you Andy (what we all called you way back when) for posting this! I was indeed following along the livestream on Sat, and was disappointed that I could not hear your eulogy. I just howled over the tennis court story! I was impressed in Father’s homily when he mentioned all Joe’s pro bono work, and not charging clients who simply couldn’t afford it. I too have given away plenty of free tax advice over the decades and helped some individuals out of outright jams. All the best to you in the difficult days ahead; think of all the good Gen & Joe left behind for everyone. Cousin Martin in Minneapolis
Bill & Linda Maciejewski
We’re sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. Our condolences to the Cesario family & friends.
glenn gaffney
Joe was a great lawyer but an even better Man.
He will be missed by the DuPage Bar and Judges.
God Bless Joe and Mrs. Cesario.
Connie Gessner
I was so saddened to see this announcement today. Joe was someone I always looked forward to seeing and talking to at court. We had some cases together over the years and he was always a strong advocate but also a gentleman. I will miss him greatly. My condolences to his family.
Bruce Garner
So sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. We had a trial together a few years ago so got to know him through that experience. He was a great advocate for his client but always a gentleman. I will miss him around the courthouse. The world was a better place with Joe in it.
Becky Dahlgren
I always enjoyed working with Joseph on our various cases together.
He will truly be missed.
I loved the video.
Becky Dahlgren
I always enjoyed working with Joe on our various cases together.
He will truly be missed.
I loved the video.
Christopher Maurer
Rest in peace, Joe. A true gentleman that I had the pleasure of working with on a couple of cases over the years. Always so full of spirit! My condolences to the family.
Marsha Cellucci
Joe was a great guy and I’ll miss him. I knew him for 43 years having met him for the first time when the Justinian Society of DuPage County was founded in 1977. I loved working with him on occasion and he was certainly a gentlemen to work with but I mostly enjoyed just visiting with him in the ARC talking about his travels and good food!
Scott Middleton
I only knew Mr. Cesario because we rented office space in the same building in Hinsdale.
Mr Cesario was a great guy, always trying to help me with my business and giving an encouraging word.
I will miss Joe. May God Bless his family.
Gwendolyn (Norgle) Reedy
Your father’s grit, passion, and love is present in all of you. Sending my prayers to all of the Cesario children and grandchildren.
Dorothy Fritz
Joe took on my best friends divorce case pro bono over 30 years ago. When she passed away from cancer he stayed on and successfully got me guardianship of her two small children over their dad-unprecedented in DuPage county. I will be forever grateful to this amazing man for what he did to help a dying young woman and for saving her two children from a very evil father.Both kids graduated college and are leading happy lives .Bless you Joe❤️