Thomas J. Caragher, 89, a resident of Oak Park for over 57 years, died on April 27, 2017 at Brookfield’s Scottish Home. Born on April 23, 1928 in Chicago, he moved with his family to Peoria where he graduated from Spaulding High School in 1946. He received his B.S. degree from Marquette University. In 1952, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. During a week’s leave, he married Patricia Sue Wise on March 7, 1953, and, a week later, he left for his European assignment, serving in Heidelberg and Baden-Wüttemberg, Germany.
After service, he began studying law at Marquette University, received his degree in 1955, and was admitted to practice as attorney-at-law in the state of Wisconsin. Also in 1955, he began working for the U.S. Social Security Administration, relocated to Chicago, and later to Oak Park. In 1976, he became an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Thomas Caragher was the husband of Patricia for 64 years; the father of Ann, Geralyn (the late Richard) Cardamone, Kathleen Bridget (Gary) Jedlovec, Thomas P. (Cindy), Mathew (Regina), Andrew, Peter (Claire) and Regina (Todd) Gillerlain; the grandfather of Katie (Kyle Swanson) Justice, Richard Cardamone, Ben (Amy), Phillip and Dylan Jedlovec, Elizabeth and Anna Caragher, Reina and Ryan Garrett, and Danny and Patsy Gillerlain; the great-grandfather of Juliette Jedlovec; brother of Bernard (Allene) and the late Margaret Mary Caragher; and an uncle and great-uncle of many.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 4 from 3 until 8 p.m. at Oak Park’s Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St. Prayers are on Friday at 11:15 a.m., then to Ascension Church for Mass at 12 p.m., followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to the National Right to Life, www.nrlc.org, or to the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, www.loyolamedicine.org.