Angelo "Mickey" Zito

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Darlene (nee OBrill); his children, Michael (Betty) Zito, Timothy (Joanne) Zito, Mari Lynn (Sonny) Bracco, Jeanne (the late Robert) McDaniel, and Claire (Dan) Smunt; 12 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Fond uncle to many nieces and nephews. Mickey was born to Angelo and Annunziata Zito in Melrose Park.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Ann; his parents; and his siblings, Mary, Joseph, Jane, Rocco, Anthony, and Dominic.

After 30 years of service he retired from the Melrose Park Fire Department as Captain. He went on to become an arson investigator with the State of Illinois for 28 years when he retired in 2004. Mickey enjoyed being an active member of his community. He was a lector, cantor, and choir member of Sacred Heart Church in Melrose Park and an active choir member of Sacred Heart Church in Marengo. He was also a former bus driver for Sacred Heart School-Melrose Park. He started the Italian-American Club in Marengo and began the first St. Joseph’s Table in Marengo. He was a member of The Holy Name Society, the American Legion, Former Commissioner of Boy Scout Troop 115-Melrose Park and the Oldest Grass Car Race Driver driving with Nelson Stewart. He worked on the Disaster Relief Committee of Marengo and received numerous meritorious awards and citations from the fire service industry. He liked playing cards with his fireman pals. He loved spending time with friends and family at his farm in Jo Daviess County. And if any friends ever spent time at the farm you knew you were family. He was a loving family man, friend and forever a fireman.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9pm on Monday, May 2, at Marengo-Union Funeral Home, 505 E. Grant Hwy., Marengo. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10am on Tuesday, May 3, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 323 N. Taylor St., Marengo.

The family will continue on for a short visitation at 1pm until a 1:30pm funeral blessing at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 819 N. 16th Ave., Melrose Park.

Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Hillside.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice, 6885 Vistagreen Way #C, Rockford, IL 61107, or to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, Camp “I Am Me,” P.O. Box 911, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056.

For information call the funeral home at 815-568-8131. Online condolences may be made at www.marengo-unionfuneralhome.com.

When I am called to duty, God,

wherever flames may rage.

Give me strength to save some life

whatever be its age.

Help me to embrace a child

before it is too late,

or save an older person

from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout

and quickly and efficiently to

put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and

to give the best in me.

To guard my every neighbor and

protect his property.

And if according to my fate,

I am to lose my life,

please bless with your protecting hand

my children and wife.