Ben Molinaro Obituary

Molinaro, Ben A. Ben A. Molinaro passed away at the golden age of 94. Beloved husband of Eileen (nee Vaughan) for a loving 68 years; devoted father of Margaret (the late Dan) Sweeney, Ben Jr. (Sandy), James (Deborah), and Anthony (Deborah) Molinaro; loving son of the late Lawrence, and the late Emelia (nee Magnacavallo) Molinaro; fond grandfather and great-grandfather of many; dear brother of Sam (Patricia), Larry (the late Lorraine), the late Frank, and the late Rose (Pete) Salach; dear uncle and great-uncle of many. Ben Molinaro served in the US Army from 1942 to 1945 as a paratrooper and radio operator in the 101st Airborne as part of the 401st Glider Infantry Regiment and the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment. His unit fought battles in Normandy (France), Holland,Bastogne (Belgium), and Germany, occupying Hitler's Eagle's Nest headquarters. Molinaro earned several medals, including the Bronze Star, the American Campaign medal, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the European Campaign medal with four Bronze Battle Stars, the French Croix de Guerre medal, the Belgian Croix de Guerre medal, and the Orange Lanyard of the Royal Netherlands Army. Funeral Saturday, January 4, 2014, 12:00 p.m. from Russo's Hillside Chapels, 4500 Roosevelt Road, Hillside, IL 60162 (between Mannheim and Wolf Road) to St. Leonard's Church, 3318 Clarence Avenue, Berwyn, IL 60402. Mass 1:00 p.m. Entombment Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Christ the King Garden Mausoleum. Visitation Friday, January 3 from 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. For additional info (708)449-5300. Please visit Ben's personal tribute website at www.russohillsidechapels.com and sign the guestbook. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Italian-American Civic Organization of Berwyn "IACOB" Scholarship Fund appreciated.