Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Clumns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Toggle search form
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager Government
  • Author Charlene Wexler
    Newly released novel, ‘We Won’t Go Back’ Published, addresses women’s issues Books & Films
  • Baby names. Photo courtesy of sincerely-media-9s7EOmv2HDA-unsplash
    Olivia and Liam Remain Most Popular Baby Names for 2024 Baby Boomers
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Dad who feared losing son forever, won in court, keeping son in the U.S.  Dads' Rights
  • Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
    Roseland Ceasefire Warns Chicago’s Homicide Numbers Could Be Victims of  Trump’s Targeted Cuts Chicago
  • (Back) Dep Fire Chief Nick Cinquepalmi, retiring Board President John Brudnak, Trustee Donald “DJ” Jeffers, Board President Beth Damas Kaspar, Trustee Bridget Eileen Tolan, retired Fire Chief Michael Schofield, front, retiring Trustee Jayne Schirmacher.
    ​Orland Fire District elects first-ever woman Board President breaking news
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly
    Congresswoman Robin Kelly clear leader in race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin Blogger
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The $2 billion wealth transfer: How Cook County’s property tax appeals system rewards businesses at the expense of homeowners breaking news
  • Lyons Township Board
    Lyons Township Democrats celebrate public support at annual fundraiser Bridgeview
  • OFPD Jr cadet camp June 26 2025
    Registration opens May 9 for Orland Fire Kids Camp and Jr Cadet Programs Events
  • 19-year-old Victor Martinez charged by Cicero police in 2016 murder
    Cicero police arrest suspect in 2016 murder of Julio Servin Crime
  • OFPD Commissioner Donald "DJ" Jeffers, OFPD Trustee Beth Damas Kaspar, and former Palos Heights Police CSO Bridget Eileen Tolan, will take the oath of office for the OFPD Board of Trustees on Monday May 5, 2025
    Fiscal Voices candidates to take Oath of Office for Trustee for Orland Fire District Monday elections
  • Cook County Commissioner Aguilar expresses strong support for "workers' rights" at rally Thursday Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar joined May Day Celebrations, May 1, 2025, and spoke at the rally in support of workers' rights and immigration
    Cook County Commissioner Aguilar expresses strong support for “workers’ rights” at rally Thursday Civil Rights
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    When it comes to voting on property tax referendums, the few decide for the many Blogger
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings, 19th Senate District
    Hastings working to ensure vet techs have necessary training Government

Former Lyons trustee Alonzi dies

Posted on July 20, 2023July 20, 2023 By Steve Metsch No Comments on Former Lyons trustee Alonzi dies
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Former Lyons trustee Alonzi dies

Served 12 years; started block party

By Steve Metsch

As do many people in Lyons, Village Trustee Dan Hilker has fond memories of former Trustee Pat Alonzi.

“I sat next to Pat (at board meetings).  … She was fun to deal with. She was concerned about the citizens of the community,” he said. “She owned a business.  She and her husband built some homes here. She wanted to see the community grow.”

Hilker worked with Alonzi on the village issues for 10 years.

Alonzi, 85,  who stepped down from the board earlier this year, died on July 15 at her daughter’s home in Homer Glen, according to an obituary from Hitzeman Funeral Home in Brookfield.

A memorial service begins at 11 a.m. Friday at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Committal Chapel, 1400 S. Wolf Road, Hillside.

Alonzi resigned as a trustee in January due to health issues. She had served 12 years on the village board.

In her letter of resignation, Alonzi wrote: “Serving as an elected official for my community has been a great honor. After 12 years of faithful service to the residents of Lyons, I feel my time has come to pass the baton.”

In a posting on the village’s Facebook page, Mayor Christopher Getty said “her legacy will be cherished for years to come.”

Trustee Alonzi “demonstrated unwavering commitment and passion for the betterment of our village. Her tireless efforts in advocating for the needs of our residents and working diligently to enhance the quality of life for everyone have earned her the respect and admiration of our community,” Getty said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Alonzi family during this difficult time,” he said.

Pat Alonzi

Pat Alonzi served as a Lyons Village Trustee for 12 years. 

When he announced Alonzi’s resignation at a village board meeting in February, Getty said “she was part of the community, cared about things. She stayed in the loop on everything.”

Alonzi was one of the first women to work as a radio operator for the Lyons Police Department, a job she held for 13 years.

She and her late husband Michael Alonzi owned Alonzi’s Restaurant in Brookfield for 18 years.

Alonzi was well-known in Lyons for being the driving force behind an annual block party held outside her home on the village’s west side.

The party grew over the years to become one of the biggest annual events in Lyons.

In February, trustee Paul Marchiori said Alonzi “was great to work with.”

“Pat was always very happy and polite, always there to do her part. I always remember her block parties, especially in the beginning. All the cooking she did. She would cook for days,” Marchiori said.

Trustee Teresa Echeverria said Alonzi “put the town first. She cared. And when one of us got hurt, she was calling, sending us food.”

In an August 2019 story in the Desplaines Valley News, Alonzi talked about the block party as she rested on a folding chair.

“My legs,” she confided, “are killing me.”

Alonzi, 81 then, had been up until the wee hours preparing food for the party.

“I was up until 2 in the morning making pasta, macaroni and tuna salads. Each tray serves 50. It’s a lot of work,” she said.

“But,” Alonzi added with a smile, “I’m glad that everybody came out.”

The family asks that memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Cancer Society.

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at sm4610@sbcglobal.net
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are still rockin’ - August 10, 2023
  • Weathering personal storms - July 20, 2023
  • Countryside solution irks some - July 20, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Christopher Getty, Dan Hilker, Lyons, Pat Alonzi, Paul Marchiori, Teresa Echeverria, Village Board

Post navigation

Previous Post: Egyptian Flag to be raised in Celebration of Egypt’s Independence by America’s only Egyptian American Mayor Mary Basta
Next Post: Countryside solution irks some

Related Posts

  • Police Squad Car, courtesy of Wikipedia
    Should there be restrictions in wake of Orland Mall shooting Business
  • Police car, this one from Chicago. Photo courtesy WIkipedia
    Chicago, Detroit best cities for Police Chicago
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Fathers’ Rights Court victory: After hard-fought trial, judge gives custody of children to dad Civil Rights
  • Hundreds Run In Memory Of Kelli O’Laughlin News
  • Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan addressing the Oct. 21, 2018 candidate's forum hosted by the Arab American Democratic Club in suburban Chicago. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    I like Mike, it’s the politician losers who don’t Blogger
  • Moraine Valley Community College MVCC
    Lipinski directs major grant to MVCC Education

More Related Articles

April 28, 2022 fundraiser rally for 4th SubCircuit judicial candidates in Cook County ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas Lyons hosts fundraiser for judicial candidates Raines-Welch and Kantas April 28 Chicago
Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan addressing the Oct. 21, 2018 candidate's forum hosted by the Arab American Democratic Club in suburban Chicago. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Anniversary of Arab American Recognition in Illinois Blogger
SRA Dave Orth (L) and SRA Clarence Tolliver (R), members of the 60th Security Police Squadron's Base Swat Team, Travis Air Force Base wearing black uniforms stand with M-9 pistols ready behind covering foliage. They are participating in a simulated hostage (Released to Public) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Bridgeview police search for armed suspect Crime
Two garage fires reported in Orland Park, Friday Nov. 24, 2017. Photos courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District Orland woman dies in cooking related fire News
All in the family News
Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar Jamie Kucera Named Cook County’s 16th District Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Award Winner Cook County

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Congresswoman Robin Kelly
    Congresswoman Robin Kelly clear leader in race to succeed Senator Dick Durbin
    May 6, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    When it comes to voting on property tax referendums, the few decide for the many
    May 2, 2025
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
    Illinois has many better options than Pritzker’s choice to succeed Durbin
    April 27, 2025
  • Ray Hanania at 3 years old in Chicago with his mother, sister Linda and neighbor Paulie Hansen. 1956
    72 years around the sun, an experience that continues to grow
    April 19, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    You May Be Owed Money For Overpaying Property Taxes Up To 20 Years Ago
    April 18, 2025
  • Fathers Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving
    Men can be Victims of Domestic Abuse Too
    April 6, 2025
  • NEWS
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager
    May 12, 2025
  • Author Charlene Wexler
    Newly released novel, ‘We Won’t Go Back’ Published, addresses women’s issues
    May 10, 2025
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves Hockey skate Past Rockford Icehogs 4 to 2
    February 23, 2025
  • Chicago Wolves player Andrew Poturalski. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves. https://www.chicagowolves.com
    The Chicago Wolves dispatched the Iowa Wild 4-1 on Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
    February 22, 2025
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge
    Orland Park Village Board Appoints George Koczwara as Village Manager
    May 12, 2025
  • Author Charlene Wexler
    Newly released novel, ‘We Won’t Go Back’ Published, addresses women’s issues
    May 10, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme