William Joseph ("Bill") Haggerty Sr.

William Joseph "Bill" Haggerty, Sr. 1930-2021, age 90 of Evergreen Park; beloved husband of the late Eileen nee Gallagher; devoted father of Eileen (Steve Fox), Kevin (Nina Kang), Karen (Steve Cieslewicz), Laura (Gino Sciacca), Ann (Matthew Harkenrider), and Jennifer (Biren Patel), and the late William Jr.; loving grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of 6; brother of Jerry (Cathy), Thomas (Terry) and the late Richard Haggerty, Mary Caffrey, Alice DiFibo, Therese Baker, John, James, and Joseph Haggerty, Ellen Murphy and Nancy Murray; son of the late Richard and Alice nee Cunningham.

Born and raised in Saint Barnabas Parish in Chicago’s Beverly Neighborhood, William graduated from Leo High School before attending the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN on an athletic scholarship. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1953 serving in the Korean War where he worked for the Red Cross teaching First Aid and water safety to our servicemen before being discharged in 1955. Because of his athletic abilities he qualified for the 1956 U.S Olympic Trials for Diving. He was a water enthusiast, spending many years swimming, lifeguarding, sailing and he particularly loved teaching others how to swim and sail.  In 1958 he married Eileen Gallagher at Visitation Parish and soon thereafter began a long career in sales with several companies including Haggerty Fuel Oil, Haggerty Chevrolet-Pontiac-GMC and finally with the J.S. Paluch Company of Schiller Park. 

Bill’s faith and family were the center of his life. A dedicated parishioner of Most Holy Redeemer Parish (MHR) in Evergreen Park for 55 years, Bill served as a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Adoration Society, and a Minister of Care bringing communion to the homebound. He was a member of the Holy Name Society, Christ Renews His Parish spiritual retreat program, and the Tuesday Morning Men’s Prayer Group. As a frequent volunteer at MHR school, he particularly loved teaching in the gymnasium, and he fondly cherished his time spent with the students in the school deaf program. For several years he assisted the Ambassadors of Mary in transporting the Pilgrim Virgin to various homes for prayer and devotion as well as assisting with the St. Michael League for Law Enforcement monthly masses. He could often be found in the parish adoration chapel covering an hour for anyone who asked. His deep belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist gave him strength through his very last hours. With an avocation for video production, his television program “The Stations of the Cross from Most Holy Redeemer Parish'' has aired during the season of Lent on Chicagoland public access television for more than 25 consecutive years. In recognition of his many decades of Stewardship, Bill was honored with MHR’s Parishioner of the Year Award in 2009.

When not on his knees in the Adoration Chapel or seated in his favorite chair on the back porch, Bill could be found on the golf course. He participated in two golf leagues for several years and fostered the love of the game with his children and grandchildren. Prior to its closing in 2014, Bill was a part-time employee of Woodbine Gold Course in Home Glen, one of his favorite courses. 

An Irish Wake and Visitation will be held on Friday, August 6th beginning at 12:00 Noon and concluding with a Vigil Service at 8:00 p.m. at the Haggerty Family Home, 9558 S Ridgeway Avenue, Evergreen Park. “You have fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the Faith”.  Funeral Saturday 9:30 a.m. from his late residence with a formal procession to his beloved Church of the Most Holy Redeemer for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. A Live Stream of the funeral mass will be linked to the service details below. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, St. Anne Shrine, Lot 809, NW Grave. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in William’s name to any of the following organizations near and dear to his heart:

• Most Holy Redeemer Parish, 9525 S Lawndale Avenue, Evergreen Park IL 60805

• Midwest Augustinians, 5401 S. Cornell Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615

• The Cause of the Canonization for Father Peter M. Rookey, 2040 Allen Blvd #6, Middleton, WI 53562

NOTICE:  96th Street will be reserved to accommodate parking during the Visitation on Friday, August 6th. Traffic will be directed westbound, only. Please enter 96th Street via Ridgeway Avenue.

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