Robert Costanza

Robert Costanza, 69, of Kankakee, died Monday (Jan. 4, 2010) at home with his family at his side. Mr. Costanza was born to Frank and Theresa Pecora Costanza on March 24, 1940, in Chicago. He came to the Kankakee area from Chicago in 1964 as a storekeeper for the New York Central Railroad. He was employed at Gould National Battery (GNB) from 1967 until he retired in 2001. He was the battery division traffic manager at the corporate offices in Lombard. Robert leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Mary (nee Michel). They were married July 8, 1961, at St. Anthony's Church in Chicago. He is survived by four daughters and two sons-in-law; five sons and four daughers-in-law, and 16 grandchildren: Teri Menard, Elizabeth, Katherine and Margaret of Kankakee; Amy and Dennis Wettig, Ella Rose and Addison of Charleston; S. Jennifer and Neil McNamara, Meghan and Brody of Westchester; and Moira of Kankakee; Marc and Sandy, Rachel, Anna, Molly, and Luke of Elk Grove Village; James and Kymberli, Simon Grant, Izabella, and Jaidin of Kankakee; David of Oak Park; Thomas and Renee, Uma and Vito of Chicago; and Michael and Kelly of Kankakee. He is also survived by his mother, Ann Dell Costanza of Dolton; his brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Donna Costanza, nephews, Brad and Kyle of Leawood, Kan.; sister-in-law, Jean Costanza of Chicago Heights, nieces, Carrie (Joe) Palicki of Manteno and Catherine (Patrick) Dillon of Woodstock; two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law, Marc and Margaret Michel of Calumet City, John and Joy Michel of Oak Park; one sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan Michel and Jose' Fernandez Aviles of Madrid, Spain; and several nieces and nephews. Robert is preceded in death by his mother, Theresa; father, Frank; and his brother, Thomas. He enjoyed photography, painting and was a professional drummer. Visitation for Mr. Costanza will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said by Father John Peeters at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kankakee, at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Bourbonnais. Memorials in Robert's name may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

Robert Costanza

March 24, 1940 - January 4, 2010