Billey "Bill" Cipolla, age 84, passed away on Friday, January 4, 2013 due to complications from pneumonia.
He was born on October 23, 1928 in Rockford, IL , the son of Carl and Ann Castor Cipolla. He married Helen Delores "Dee" King on February 18, 1950 in Rochelle. Bill served in the U.S. Air Force from 1946 to 1949, he then worked as an excavator for 20 years, and owned the Town and Country Carwash, Laundromat and Mobile Home Park. He served as the mayor of Rochelle from 1967 to 1983. Bill graduated from Rochelle Township High School. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 3878 and the Knights of Columbus. He is preceded in death by his parents, infant sister, Concetta Cipolla and sister Mary Ann VanKirk.
Bill is survived by his wife, Dee Cipolla, daughters, Deena (Rick) Guptil of Bella Vista, AR, Debra (Ralph) Rodriguez of San Diego, CA and Denise Cipolla of Tucson, AZ; sons William (Bonnie) Cipolla of Los Angeles, CA and Anthony (Karen) Cipolla of Pismo Beach, CA; 10 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Nena Morrison of Rochelle, Frances Boggs of Irvine, CA, Carol Ann (Herb) Sondgeroth of Rochelle, and Karla Cipolla of Rockford, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral mass will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Rochelle. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 pm at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th Street, Rochelle.
Burial will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery with a Military Service provided by the Eastern Lee Ogle Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.honorflight.org