Joan Marilyn Kilkelly

Joan Marilyn (Hrovatin) Kilkelly, born May 15, 1931, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Waukegan, IL, the town where she went through all phases of life. She married Paul B. Kilkelly on August 19, 1950 and the two of them raised five daughters (Kathleen, Karen, Joan, Janet and Kristine). Their marriage was a testament to how deeply they cared about one another, and they celebrated 71 1/2 years together knowing that every day was a record.

Joan is preceded in death by Paul B. Kilkelly; her parents, Marian and John Hrovatin; her brother, Guy R. Hrovatin; her in-laws; The Honorable Judge Paul C. Kilkelly and Charlotte Kilkelly (Duggan); her son-in-law, Charles F. Nawrot; her brother-in-law, John Hines; and her nephews, John Hines, Jr. and Jerome Meyer.

Joan is survived by her children; Kathleen Kilkelly, Karen Kilkelly Nawrot, Joan Kilkelly Laity (Michael), Janet Kilkelly (Larry Kilbane) and Kristine Kilkelly (Mark Walsh). She was also the beloved grandmother of Brian Kilkelly (Nancy Calhoun), John Paul Kilkelly Walker, Lauren Kilbane, Margaret Kilbane and Laura Kramer Van Der Snick. Great-Grandmother to Eric Calhoun Kilkelly, Beda Carlyle Kilkelly, and MacKenzie Van Der Snick. Sister of Janet Meyer (Hrovatin); Sister-in-law to Colleen Kilkelly Hines. Aunt to John B. Meyer (Susan), Joseph Meyer, Mary Hines, Margaret Hines, Amy Hines Maki (Jake) and Paul Hines. Erin Scott Haines and Jonathan Haines (Sarah) were also especially dear to Joan as her chosen family.

Joan had an artistic spirit. She worked at Pierce Florists in Waukegan for 28 years and loved flowers, always keeping several bouquets in her home. Her skills in arranging went hand in hand with her fondness of entertaining, as she was the architect of countless parties and meals hosted on Lloyd and Lorraine Avenues. Joan was an accomplished, self-taught cook and baker who idolized and followed Julia Child, Jacques Pepin and Francois Pope. She was an extremely fashionable woman able to evolve with the latest trends while still maintaining an air of timeless elegance.

She loved live-performances, particularly the opera. Joan was an active member of Waukegan Community Players with roles both onstage and as background support. She painted, read often, loved music and took pride that the home she shared with Paul reflected their extensive world travels. Joan was courageously resilient, overcoming polio as a child, tuberculosis as a young mother and breast cancer later in life – she also committed to a sober lifestyle later in adulthood. She was sincerely welcoming and kind to everyone she met and will be terribly missed by her family and friends.

Joan’s family would like to thank the staff and residents of The Sheridan at Green Oaks; FirstLight HomeCare’s caregivers; Antoinette, Sabrina, Dada and Brenda and Meridian Health Care for their compassion, specifically for Joan’s hospice nurse, Bryce.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 1:00 pm until 4:00pm at Bonnie Brook Golf Course, Waukegan, IL