Rinato J. "Reo" Bernardini

OTTAWA - Rinato J. "Reo" Bernardini, 89, of Elmhurst, formerly of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11:24 a.m. at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 5, 2010 at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Monsignor Jerome Ham officiating. Private burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home. Mr. Bernardini was born March 6, 1921 in Dalzell, Illinois, a son of Michael and Faustina (Castelli) Bernardini. He married Ann Machino March 7, 1942 at St. Mary's Church in Naplate. She survives. Other survivors include his son, Michael (Kirsten) Bernardini of Elmhurst; his daughter, Nancy McGowan of Tampa, Florida; and three grandchildren, Martin Joseph McGowan, and Anthony and Isabella Bernardini. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Kay Bernardini; three brothers, Norie, Charles, and James Bernardini; and four sisters, Linda Ceresa, Alma Trava, Pearl Tanari, and Julia Gualandri. Rinato was a member of St. Francis Church in Ottawa, Epiphany Catholic Church of Bloomington and was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a pharmacist having operated Reo's Pharmacy, R & J Pharmacy, and Medi-RX. He also belonged to the Knights of Columbus, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans. His latter years were filled with taking extraordinary care of his wife, Ann. Memorial contributions may be directed to the National Kidney Foundation.