Joan Elizabeth Boodro

She was born in Chicago on September 22, 1953, the daughter of William Whalen and Joan Elizabeth Whalen. After the sudden death of her father, Joan's mother later married James Budzinski, who adopted and raised Joan and her sister, Vicki. The family later moved to Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Joan attended Saint Agnes School before graduating from Marian Catholic High School in 1971. She earned an associate degree in nursing from Prairie State College and later received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois in 1983.

Joan began her nursing career at the University of Chicago Hospital in 1975. During her first ten years there, she worked in several areas of the hospital, including the Intensive Care Unit, Recovery Room, and medical-surgical floor, providing compassionate care to her patients.

In 1985, Joan transitioned to the operating room, where she served as a surgical nurse until her retirement in October 2021. She was a member of the hospital's liver transplant team for more than 25 years and was part of the team that performed the first successful living donor liver transplant in the United States in 1989. In addition to this groundbreaking achievement, Joan also served on the lung transplant team. At the time of her retirement, she was working in breast cancer surgery.

Throughout her career, Joan not only mentored and trained new nurses but also helped educate countless medical students, interns, residents, and fellows as they pursued careers in surgery. As a respected senior nurse, she was known for her patience, compassion, and encouragement, helping new nurses and staff find their footing, build confidence, and grow into successful careers of their own.

Outside the hospital, Joan enjoyed spending time with her family and traveling. She often reflected on a trip around Europe she took as a young woman, during which she spent a day in East Berlin before the reunification of Germany. More recently, Joan and her husband, Bill, traveled through Italy on a guided tour, visiting the historic cities of Venice, Florence, Siena, and Rome. Her travels also included many family ski trips to Colorado, where she enjoyed time on the slopes with her family. In addition, she was an avid reader who loved a good “beach read.”

Above all, Joan will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, and loyal friend whose kindness and compassion touched everyone who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her father, adoptive father, and her dear sister, Vicki Cavallo.

Joan is survived by her beloved husband of 36 years, William ‘Bill’ Boodro; her loving children, Andrea Boodro and Jeffrey Boodro; her mother, Joan Elizabeth Cantu; her cherished siblings, Patty (Ken) Berry, James (Toni) Budzinski, and Michael (Desiri) Budzinski; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss her dearly and forever remember her compassionate heart.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Link: https://www.komen.org/how-to-help/donate/

Family and friends are invited to the memorial visitation from 2:00PM-5:00PM on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60004.