William Conway February 4th, 1925 – February 6th,2020
William Conway passed away peacefully Thursday, February 6, 2020. He was born February 4, 1925, in Bennington Vermont to the late William Archibald Kelly and Mary Elizabeth Riddell. He was given the name William Robert Kelly. After spending some time in the Troy Orphan Asylum he was adopted by his great Aunt the late Ruth (Calhoun) Conway and her husband James Conway of Troy New York where he would grow up. Devoted husband to Violet (Terpinas) Conway, father to James, William, and Ann Patricia Conway. Uncle to Victoria, Karen ( Koten ) and Leo Dunn, Mark, Scott, and Ann Margret Arbet. Brother in law to the late Ruth (Terpinas) Dunn and Theodora (Terpinas) Aickelin. He was preceded in death by his brother Richard and sister Kathleen (Kelly/Harbour) Andrews along with his half-siblings James, Gerald and Ruth Conway. He served in the Army as First Mate of a seafaring tugboat during WW II and was the first veteran to be recalled to duty from the Chicagoland area during the Korean War. He met the love of his life while both worked at R. Cooper Jr. Inc. in Chicago. He was a successful salesman whose sales presentations had a style and panache that were acknowledged by his peers as unequaled. He retired to Florida and spent many happy years together with Violet enjoying each other’s company fully. Later they would return to the Chicago area to live independently at Beacon Hill Retirement Community. Raised Catholic he converted to Orthodoxy becoming (in his words) an Irish Orthodox Christian. Until the end, he never lost his sense of humor and mirth that was the hallmark of his personality. He was above all else, a gentle man who’s absence will be felt by all who knew and loved him.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, February 12th at 9:00 AM at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church 11025 S. Roberts Rd. Palos Hills Illinois 60465. The funeral service will be at 10:00 AM followed by interment at Evergreen Cemetery 3401 W. 87th St. Evergreen Park Illinois 60805. Funeral arrangements will be through Orrico and Kourelis Funeral Services of New Lennox. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Beacon Hill Employee Appreciation Fund 2400 S. Finley Rd. Lombard Illinois 60148.