Vincent Joseph Luisi died Wednesday, Aug. 26, in Barrington, Illinois, a suburb about 30 miles away from his beloved Chicago. He was 91.
A larger-than-life figure, Vince leaves behind a legacy of unconditional love, warmth and devotion to family — one that will endure for generations through the lives he shaped, the family he built and the example he set.
Born Feb. 1, 1935, he was the son of Concetta and Vincenzo, proud Sicilian immigrants who had come to America only a few years earlier in search of a better life. It didn’t take long for Vince to make good on their sacrifice. He learned English as a second language, attended Wilbur Wright College and served his country in the U.S. Army Signal Corps before beginning a 38-year career as a purchasing agent for the Chicago and North Western Railway.
Fate intervened when he met the love of his life, Mary, on a commuter train heading downtown to work. The rest is history: They married May 7, 1960, and built a life together over the next 66 years.
Vince was a man of many talents and interests. He smoked countless cigars and loved bread and pizza from D’Amato’s Bakery. He was suspiciously good at puzzles and “Wheel of Fortune.” His sense of humor was quick, mischievous and always rooted in love. And he was a diehard—and endlessly tortured—Chicago Bears and White Sox fan.
But most of all, Vince loved his family. He was a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather in every sense of the word. Nothing made him happier than Mary and his four daughters: Mary, Margaret, Maureen and Michelle. His joy, pride and encouragement were contagious and filled every room. Life was warmer, brighter and definitely a lot louder with him in it. He had a rare gift for never taking himself too seriously while making others feel like they were the most important person in the world.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; his daughters, Mary (Kevin) Heern, Margaret Maks, Maureen (Joe) Di Joseph and Michelle Bernau; his sister, Genevieve; 12 grandchildren; and another dozen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Concetta and Vincenzo; his sister, Tina; and his brothers, John and Rosario.
A celebration of life is planned for later this fall at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Huntley, Illinois.
Those who wish to honor Vince should simply live as he did: happily, fully and without reservation.
The world is a much better place because he was in it.
We love you.
Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may receive a prompt to grant DefioreFuneral access to your camera. This is only temporary and will be solely for the duration of recording your condolence message.
One of the reasons that I fell in love with the Italian Club was meeting Vince and laughing at his warm welcome and jokes. Boy, is he missed! I will be at the memorial when it occurs.