Pete Bill Kastanes October 4, 1963 – April 25, 2026
Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Palos Gaidas Funeral Home, 11028 South Southwest Highway, Palos Hills , IL 60453. Trisagion Service at 6:30 p.m. Friends and family are asked to meet at 9:45 a.m. Friday morning, May 1st, directly at Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 11025 South Roberts Road Palos Hills, IL 60465, for a 10:00 a.m. funeral service . Pete will be laid to rest among family at Evergreen Cemetery in Evergreen Park, IL .
In lieu of flowers the family welcomes donations in Pete’s honor. Contributions will be directed to the family and will be used in ways that honor Pete’s life and continue his legacy. Donations may be made out to his mother Zoe Kastanes and sent Care of/ Orrico Kourelis Funeral Services Inc. 637 Lenox Street New Lenox Illinois 60451.
For information please call or text Michael Orrico at 815/260-0668…. Thank you
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved son and brother, Pete, on April 25th after a short illness. Pete was 62 years old. Cherished son to Father (late) Christ and Mother Zoe. Proud brother to Bill and John. Dear nephew and cousin to many in the Stephanopoulos and Kastanes families. May his memory be eternal.
Pete was born on October 4th, 1963, in Oak Lawn, IL. Only fitting that Pete was born in a major suburb in the Chicagoland area as he would later showcase an impressive storytelling talent for the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.
Even at a young age, Pete possessed an outgoing, friendly personality with his family, friends, and classmates at Koreas Greek Elementary School and Bogan High School. Pete always looked forward to seeing all his friends again at every high school reunion.
After proudly graduating from DeVry University, Pete’s life journey took him to American Express Travel, where he wasn’t only a dedicated co-worker, but a trusted friend full of energy, warmth, and humor that made long work hours much more tolerable.
With his departure from American Express Travel, Pete found his true calling: the administrator of Vanished Chicagoland website. This was a goldmine of information and insight on the history of past businesses and institutions in The Windy City.
Fans of Vanished Chicagoland couldn’t wait for Pete’s next post or podcast covering pizzerias, toy stores, concert halls, and other nostalgic gems of a past era. With just a few clicks, visitors were magically transported to a Chicago they fondly remembered and wanted to know more about.
Questions would be asked, and Pete would answer them. Stories would be shared, and Pete would relay them. His passion, craftsmanship, and flair for overseeing Vanished Chicagoland were unmatched.
Everyone Pete touched will miss him immensely for his congeniality, uniqueness, and zest for life. All arrangements entrusted to Orrico Kourelis Funeral Services Inc.