NICOLAS A. VERONICO

NICOLAS A. VERONICO

Nicolas A. Veronico, 94, Burlington, died March 7, 2012, at Walnut Grove, Lake Geneva. He was born June 22, 1917, in Carbonara di Bari, Italy to the late Anthony and Maria (Lollino) Veronico. At age 12, he immigrated to the United States on a 10-day voyage aboard the S.S. Roma, landing at Ellis Island in July of 1929. He settled in Chicago, where he graduated from Lane Tech High School and met his wife, Geraldine Silvestri, to whom he was married on June 24, 1939. Following their marriage, they made their home in Chicago and then Wheaton, Ill.  She preceded him in death in May 1983.

He proudly served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant from 1943 to 1946. He was a veteran of World War II and was a writer for the Pacific edition of the Stars and Stripes newspaper.

He enjoyed a successful career as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and in Public Relations for Peoples Gas Light and Coke Co., and the Illinois Bell Telephone Co.  After retirement, he was a freelance writer for various Chicagoland newspapers.

He had been a member of St. Michael and St. Mark churches, Wheaton, and St. Mary Catholic Church, Burlington. He was also a member of the Chicago Press Veterans Association, the Chicago Newspaper Reporters Association, the Knights of Columbus, former director of the Publicity Club of Chicago, member and past president of the DuPage Press Association, Public Information Chairman of the DuPage Chapter of the American Red Cross, and lifetime member and past Commander of the Wheaton Post of the VFW.

He had spent 20 years in Chicago, 50 years in Wheaton, and the past 13 years in Burlington.

He had many interests including world travel, classical and opera music, gardening, politics, and current events. He also enjoyed spending time with his five children, 12 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. He strove to instill in them the importance of education, hard work, tolerance, peace, and appreciation of the beautiful things in life.

Survivors include his children, Anthony Veronico, Maria Veronico Ventura, Angela (Marty Munvez) Veronico, Loretta (Steve) Jackson and Jim Veronico; grandchildren, James (Bonnie) Veronico, Michael Veronico, Kim (Dave) O’Brien, Jim (Monica) Veronico Ventura, Christy (Greg) Edwards, Mike (Ronda) Newhouse Conner, Angela (Eric) Daft, Joe Rosenthal, Mike Rosenthal, Joshua (Raquel) Jackson, Jonathan (Melissa) Jackson and Nicholas Jackson; great-grandchildren, Connor, Lauren, Levi and Robert O’Brien, Genna, Reese, Grace and Ashton Edwards, Dakota and Kalea Conner, Logan Daft, Owen Jackson and baby Daft on the way; and brother, Joseph (Evelyn) Veronico.

He was further preceded in death by his sisters, Stella (Savino) Partipillo, Rose (Giuseppe) Quaranta and Angelina (Raffaele) Ventrella; and son-in-law, James D. Ventura.

Visitation is Saturday, March 10, from 9-11:30 a.m., at Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home, 625 Browns Lake Drive, Burlington. Funeral services are March 10, at noon at St. Mary Catholic Church. The Rev. James Volkert will officiate. Burial will follow the service at 3 p.m., at St. Michael Cemetery in Wheaton.

In lieu of flowers memorials to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Love Inc. in Burlington, the Transitional Living Center in Burlington or to St. Mary School in Burlington  are suggested.