James Joseph Spelina

James Joseph Spelina, 78, passed peacefully in his sleep on August 26, 2022.  He is survived by his loving wife Mary Anne nee Losos and two daughters, Patti (Jim) Heintz of Homer Glen, IL.  and Bizzi (Erik Isaacson) Spelina of Black River Falls, WI; as well as his two beloved grandson’s Jimmy E. and Christopher A. Heintz.  He is also survived by his sisters Diana (the late Virgil) Sanders, and Mary Lou (the late Jim) Preucil and many beloved nieces, nephews, and brothers and sisters in-laws. Jim was born on February 9, 1944 in Berwyn, Il, to James and Mary Elizabeth (Lusk) Spelina. He grew up in the home built by his grandparents in Stickney, which is where he lived almost his entire life.  He raised pigeons and loved to go on fishing trips in Canada and Wisconsin with his Dad.  In 1964 Jim joined the US Marine Corps Reserves, and served proudly until 1970.  He married Mary Anne on September 24, 1966, and they honeymooned in Miami during hurricane Inez.  That didn’t dampen their love of travelling as they went on many, many camping trips with family and friends. In between vacations Jim worked at Dressel’s Bakery as a machinist, until they closed in 1995.  He then went on to work for Wonder Bread until he retired in 1999. He loved puttering around his yard while tending to his flowers, and caring for his squirrels, with whom he shared Oreo cookies. Jim really loved cooking.  His specialties were roast pork with sweet and sour cabbage, turkey on the Weber grill, and hand rolled gyros, also prepared on the Weber.  He often said he wanted to move to Florida to open a Bohemian restaurant, which he felt they were lacking.   He truly enjoyed cooking for family and friends, and especially making brownies for his grandsons. Another of Jim’s favorite pastime’s was anything revolving his grandson’s, Jimmy and Christopher.  During  baseball season he could always be found cheering Jimmy on at a game (“Look out for that tree!”), and he was so proud of all Jimmy accomplished on the baseball field.  And he never tired of Christopher’s detailed drawings of, well, everything.  When Christopher was accepted into the architecture program at Kansas State he couldn’t stop telling everyone about it.  They never stopped amazing their Grandpa.  Jim loved life, and loved to laugh.  But his absolute favorite thing to do was to just be with wish loving wife of 56+ years, Mary Anne.  They loved going to for long drives to nowhere.  They enjoyed going to the Smokies, Florida, Mississippi, or anywhere the road took them. Family and friends are asked to gather on Monday, August 29, from 3-9 pm at The Tower Home for Funerals, 4007 Joliet Avenue, Lyons, IL.  708-788-7775  TowerLyons.com  A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, August 30 at 10 am at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 4300 Oak Park Ave, Stickney, IL.

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