03/30/1954 – 01/02/2025

Raymond Harry Paolicchi, 70, of Glen Ellyn. Ray passed peacefully on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 at Arden Courts, with his wife and son at his side. He was born on March 30, 1954 in Chicago, IL, and was the son of Harry and Theresa Paolicchi. He grew up in Berwyn, IL, went to Havlicek, Lincoln Junior High and Morton West High School.

The beloved Husband of Patricia. Loving Father of Michael (Katie) Paolicchi and Margie (Patrick) Kelly. Fun-Loving Grandpa of Reese and Chase. Dedicated Son of the late Harry J. and Theresa Paolicchi. Dearest brother of Joanna (Stephen) Greenwood. Dear brother-in-law of Antoinette (Darren) Rogers, Kathleen (Juel) Marifjeren, John (Genny) King, James (Julie) King, Edward (Deborah) King, Joseph (Sherrie) King, Victor (Peri) Rogers, William (Patricia) Rogers, Thomas (Jaime) Rogers and fond uncle of many, many nieces and nephews.

Ray chose to attend Illinois Institute of Technology to study Chemical Engineering. It was there that he met his future wife, Patty. He gave her a ticket to his graduation, and afterwards, she met his mom and dad. When Harry found out she also grew up in Berwyn, he insisted Ray call her to ask her out. When Ray finally did, they started dating. At the end of the summer, Ray went to the University of Michigan to study for his Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering. Patty and Ray got married when they both finished their engineering degrees, then lived in Downers Grove for 3-1/2 years.

In 1982, they bought a home in South Berwyn. Ray was quite the handyman, and that 57-year old bungalow always had something that needed fixing or sprucing up. Three years later, Mike was born, and another two years, Margie. Ray loved being a dad! He was a soccer coach, baseball coach, helped with dioramas and science projects, volunteered at class parties, and planned all the vacations and camping trips. Daddy/Daughter date nights were very special to Ray. He and Margie would dress up and attend the parties at Proksa Park. They loved dancing together! Ray also loved the partners that his kids chose to spend their lives with: Katie with Mike, and Patrick with Margie.

For 36 years, Ray was a chemical engineer for Amoco Research, Amoco Oil, the spin-offs of Innovene and Ineos, and finally British Petroleum (BP). He worked in Naperville, Downtown Chicago, Whiting, Toledo and Texas City. He also traveled multiple times to Europe to coordinate the Sulfur Operations Units from around the world. He was very smart, and earned many awards for the projects he designed.

In the year that Ray turned 60, he decided to retire. Unfortunately, that was when his memory issues started to surface. He and Patty still had a good life, but they decided to downsize and move to Glen Ellyn. Their 91-year old bungalow sold in two days; a tribute to Ray and his handiwork. Ray enjoyed fixing up their 61-year-old ranch home that sat on a corner lot. He planted two raised bed gardens, and harvested whatever the birds and squirrels didn’t devour. He kept busy trimming bushes, cutting grass, and raking leaves. In winter, there was plenty of snow to shovel!

While the last few years were difficult for Ray suffering from Alzheimer’s, he was still able to enjoy beautiful parts of life such as the births of his grandchildren. His loving wife Patty took wonderful care of him, enjoying every small moment whether listening to his favorite music or talking about stories of their life together.

~~~Rest in Peace Ray, you will be dearly missed~~~