Morton Grove and Niles Obituaries For Dec. 3

Gerald La Cerra

Gerald A. La Cerra, age 85, of Niles. Beloved husband of Ann nee Gerhart. Loving father of Nancy La Cerra and the late William La Cerra. Loving grandpa of Clayton. Uncle and relative of many. A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, December 7 from 9:00 a.m. until time of service 11:00 a.m. at Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Home, 8025 W. Golf Road in Niles. Interment Private. Info 847-581-0536 or www.colonialfuneral.com - See more at: http://colonialfuneral.com/obituary/Gerald-A.-La-Cerra/Niles-IL/1319169#sthash.rbV2Fugv.dpuf

Joseph E. O'Donnell 
(December 12, 1932 - November 30, 2013) 

Mr. Joseph E. O’Donnell, 80 years of age, passed away November 30, 2013 due to complications arising from a lengthy battle with kidney cancer. Mr. O’Donnell was a life-long resident of the greater Chicago Area, attending St. Rita H.S. (‘50) and DePaul University (‘54). In 1951, he enlisted in the USNR until his college graduation, then requested and received admittance to Naval Flight Training. He received his “wings of gold” and his commissioned Officer status the following year. While he was trained as an aircraft carrier based anti-submarine pilot, he was ordered back to Pensacola, FL to be further trained as a Helicopter pilot. His duties took him to the 6th fleet where he was fortunate to rescue two downed airmen who had crashed. Mr. O’Donnell left active naval duty in 1960 to begin a civilian career. Mr. O’Donnell became a National Bank Examiner on the staff of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), headquartered in the 7th Federal Reserve District. Seven years later, Mr. O’Donnell was selected for advanced training and began and completed his MBA degree at Northwestern University, Kellogg GSM (‘68). A few years later, he was made Chief of the Commercial Lending Portfolio, Sr. V.P. & Director of the Northwest National Bank of Chicago, a post he held for 8 years. In 1979, he became the President of the First National Bank of Morton Grove, IL, a position he held until the sale of the bank in 1983. Mr. O’Donnell then spent the last 22 years of his business career evenly divided between Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney as a financial consultant. He retired in 2005. During his business career, Mr. O’Donnell continued to be active in his Naval Reserve duties, holding various posts in the helicopter ASW squadrons. He was fortunate to conclude his Naval Career on June 30, 1973 as C.O. of a reserve unit that he had just been awarded a Navy-wide trophy for excellence. Mr. O’Donnell is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Mary Elizabeth, nee Saigh; two daughters, Mrs. Mary Jo (Rob) Cook and Mrs. Anne Marie (Tom) Kelly; son, Joseph E., Jr.; and five grandchildren, Sean, Donald and Peter Kelly, and Kelly and Laura Cook. A visitation will be held Friday, December 6, 2013 from 4-8 pm at Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home, 1787 Deerfield Rd., Highland Park, IL. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Church, 724 Elder Ln., Deerfield, IL. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations made in honor of Joe to Loyola University Bernadin Cancer Center, 2160 S. First Ave. Maywood, IL 60153, or to National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., NAS Pensacola, FL 32508 or to Midwest Palliative and Hospice CareCenter, 2050 Claire Court, Glenview, IL 60025 would be appreciated. For information please call Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home at (847) 831-4260 or consult Kelley & Spaulding webpage.