Charles Joseph Keane

He was preceded in death by his parents (Maryrose and James Keane), in-laws (Mike and Lynn Acerra), wife (Patricia Acerra Keane), daughter (Angela Keane), and his own dearly loved and revered pantheon of aunts and uncles including the most recent passing of dear aunts (Barbara Mesi and Isabella Cameron).

Charlie grew up in Bellwood with his mother, sister (Mary Theresa) and brother (James Keane). He was a kind and generous son and brother, working from a very young age helping with bills and scaring off debt collectors. When Christmas came around his snow shoveling money went to his family. His sister Mary was the main beneficiary – he couldn’t suffer her not having a nice coat or doll from Marshall Fields like the other girls, (to the point he occasionally indulged in a five-fingered discount to bring things home).

He loved his childhood to the extent that he pitied anyone who did not share his memories - that is everyone other than his siblings, cousins, and the few neighborhood miscreants who populated it. Like a tribe of young vagabonds, any day they might be found haunting the Hillside bowling alley, railroad car or a makeshift football field. Chief among his favorite memories were summers spent on the Fox River. Each year he and dozens of cousins were summoned up to Ma and Pa’s summer home in Cary. He described the freedom and fun of those days as nothing short of magical- so much so that just as the summer was concluding he’d concoct some minor accident such as stepping on a fishhook - just to be invited back to his grandparents’ home in the city. There, Ma would take care of him for an extra golden week. The sorrows and hardships that marked Charlie’s earliest years were met with a lifetime of loving support and laughter.

Weeks before becoming a father, 18 year-old Charlie & his cousin Tony camped outside the IBEW hall in the cold of November for days to land a spot in the electrician’s apprenticeship program. That Keane moxie followed throughout his career as an electrician, contractor and business owner. His talent and intelligence led to ever-more complex commercial projects over the years. Of his many successes, he was most proud of the encouragement and help he gave to several cousins as well as his son Patric to find opportunities of their own. He believed being truly prosperous meant celebrating the achievements and happiness of others.

Charlie shared that moxie and spirit of adventure with the many children in his life. His kids, the Acerra kids, his grandson, nieces, nephews, cousins - and any kids lucky enough to get caught in his orbit - were entreated to snow days ending with igloos and gigantic snowmen. A lost baseball game prompted a journey to Glacier National Park and dark Chicago winters could prompt vacations to sunny, warm weather places. He also had the sensitivity to offer poetic advice during the darkest and most heartbreaking of times.

Misadventures with Charlie were artful, almost elegant to behold (unless you happened to be a zookeeper, video store owner, bill collector, one of Maryrose’s suitors, cruise ship purser, graveyard custodian, high school gym teacher, nosey neighbor, condo board member, Cary policeman, rich kid with a new bike, or Last Call).

He leaves beautiful memories to his daughter Kristi Keane Sampson, son Patric Keane and grandson Ryan Keane Sampson, as well as countless others touched by his kindness and generosity.

Visitation Friday, November 14, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL. Visitation Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at St. Edmund Catholic Church, 188 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL with Funeral Mass beginning at 10 a.m. Inurnment Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, IL at a later date. For more information, please call (847) 824-5155.