Obituary of Edith D. D'Atri
Edith “Edie” D’Atri, age 91, lifelong resident of the Joliet area, passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at Willow Falls in Crest Hill.
Born in Joliet on February 24, 1927, to the late Angelo and Amelia (nee Mitri) Paluzzi, Edie was the youngest of four sisters. She was a 1944 graduate of Joliet Township High School. As the first member of her family to be inducted into the National Honor Society, she started a tradition which has been followed by her children and grandchildren.
Edie was known around Joliet as a very capable and friendly waitress at Al’s Steakhouse, D’Amico’s, and Syl’s restaurants. She credited her years of waitress work for her good health.
A lover of a good joke and all games, Edie played Euchre and Canasta with her sisters and their husbands, ladies’ groups, with her husband, Chester, and at the Joliet Elks. She volunteered with Chester at the Elks and Bicentennial Park. An avid knitter and seamstress, she made hundreds of baby hats for Birthright. Her sewing skills were used to help many family members and friends with alterations and projects.
Edie was a devoted member of St. Jude Parish since 1962. She also belonged to Catholic Women’s League, Ladies of the Elks and Cantigny Post Auxiliary.
Edie and Chester enjoyed traveling, especially visiting relatives in California, Alaska, Canada, Boston, Cleveland and Italy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; eldest sister, Violet (Steven) Biro; her husband of 56 years, Chester (2004); and cousin, Phyllis Paluzzi.
Edie is survived by daughters, Denise (James) Maffeo and Ramona (Paul) Delrose; grandchildren, Tony (Angela) and Lisa Maffeo and Marissa and Michael Delrose; great-grandchildren, Joseph, Matthew and Mia Maffeo; sisters, Lillian (the late Joseph) Bonczek and Angela (the late Henry) Giermala; and cousin, Geno (Margaret) Paluzzi. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
The family would like to thank the staff of Willow Falls and nurses from Joliet Area Community Hospice for the gentle care that they provide to Edith.
Visitation for Edith D. D’Atri will be held on Monday, January 14, 2019, from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m., at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet. Funeral Services Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home chapel to Church of St. Jude, 2212 McDonough St., Joliet, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Memorials in Edie’s name to Alzheimer’s Research, Joliet Area Community Hospice or St. Jude Building Fund would be appreciated. For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
