Nicola Rago

Nicola Rago, age 97, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2023.

Beloved husband of the late Anna, nee Gentile, for 56 years; loving father of Loreta Cichon, Catherine (Rocco Ruffalo) Rago, and Vito (Betty) Rago; dearest son of the late Loreta and Vito Rago; cherished grandfather of Lisa (Jason) Wettstaedt, Joseph (Laura) Papa, Nicole (David) Yelaska and Angela Carlisle; proud great-grandfather of Parker, Aubrey, Isobel, Zoey, GiaNina, Jason, Elizabeth and Kaden; dear brother of Giovanni (Margherita) Rago and the late Domenico (the late Francesca) Rago, the late Maria (the late Carlo) Laudadio, the late Stefano (the late Anna) Rago; caring brother-in-law to Veronica Gentile; loving uncle of Mary Cox and many nieces and nephews.

Nicola was born in Mola di Bari, Italy. He married Anna in his hometown and then moved to the United States in 1951. He made his living by working in construction and was a longtime member of the Laborers’ Local #2, regularly pointing out the parking lots and streets he poured around the city of Chicago. Nick’s hard work paid off and he retired at the age of 62. He spent the next 30 years growing a large garden full of fruit and vegetables. Annually he’d help his wife Anna make their homemade pasta sauce. Nick possessed a strong work ethic which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. We will miss him immensely, especially his whistling, loud singing, cane tapping and his stories about ‘his wife.’

Visitation Monday, July 10, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, IL. Funeral services will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, at the funeral home, and then proceed to St. Emily Church in Mt. Prospect for Mass at 10:00 a.m. The entombment will follow at All Saints Mausoleum. For more information call (708)456-8300.