Obituary of Verna Mae Chiapello

Verna Mae Chiapello 
(nee Goss)

Verna Mae Chiapello, age 98, passed away on Friday, April 16, 2021, at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home.  She was born on December 23, 1922, the daughter of the late Clifford and Elizabeth (nee Fritz) Goss.  Verna was a federal employee, having worked 24 years for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, retiring in January 1983. She was a member of the Paulites at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. 

Verna is survived by one son, James (Jody) Chiapello; one daughter, Ellen (Patrick) Bourke; nine grandchildren, Jason Chiapello, Jeffrey (Mindy Hammond) Chiapello, Brian Bourke, Matthew (Barbara) Bourke, Sabina Bourke, Jonathan (Linda May) Bourke, Timothy (Liza) Bourke, Simon (Ashley) Bourke, and Ethan (Adrienne) Bourke; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and one brother, George (Lois) Goss.

She is preceded by her husband of 54 years, Joseph J. Chiapello; her parents; three brothers, Almer, Robert, and Richard Goss; her sister, Eleanor Goss McGuire; and one infant grandson, Michael Chiapello.

The family is very grateful to all the nurses at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home who cared for their mom.

Visitation for Verna Mae Chiapello will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.), Joliet, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of prayers at 10:00 a.m., continuing to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow privately at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name to St. Lawrence Seminary, 301 Church St., Mt. Calvary, WI 53057 would be appreciated.  For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.