Mr. William Edward Rohaly

Bill Rohaly was born in Chicago during The Great Depression. The child of Hungarian immigrants, he was the first in his family to graduate from high school, and he went on to get a degree in Agricultural Engineering from The University of Illinois— back when it still had a campus at Navy Pier. He served in the Army during the Korean War, met his pen pal while stationed in Germany and married that pen pal in November of 1956. He fathered eight children, (three of whom died due to premature birth), one of whom he had to deliver himself in the back of a taxi, and one of whom was adopted from a Hong Kong orphanage. Bill was one of those people who is good at everything. In his case, that meant math and science, writing, carpentry, drawing, cooking. He was a champion at packing suitcases efficiently, and packing a car so that everything fit, including the dog. He was good at making friends, at storytelling, at being romantic to his wife. And he was good at fathering. He loved to set off on a journey without knowing his destination, and he mostly didn’t get lost. He had a permanent compass in his brain, and he always loved sketching maps. He was well-traveled: he visited at least seven countries and almost all of the United States. One could fill a book with all of his accomplishments, and another book listing all of his friends. He was devoted to his wife until the day that she died in 2016. Even after decades, he called her his “bride.” He was brave and strong, with an endlessly positive attitude that kept him happy into his old age. William is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Julia Rohaly (nee Wigh). his older brother, Joseph; his wife, Katherine; and their children, Anita, Michael, and David. He is survived by his children, Bill Rohaly, Claudia Rohaly, Christopher Rohaly (Cindy), Linda Rohaly (Kevin Connolly), Julia Rohaly Buckley (Jeff Buckley). His grandchildren, Matthew Rohaly (Annette), Anna Rohaly Marrah (Josh), Thomas Rohaly, Billy Rohaly (Erica), Cashie Rohaly Yzenga (Evan), Joseph Rohaly, Katherine Connolly, Daniel Connolly, Pamela Connolly, Ian Buckley (Laura Kaczmarczyk), Graham Buckley (Lauren). And his great grandchildren: Henry Rohaly, Isaiah Rohaly, Nathan Marrah, Lucy Marrah, and Amelia Marrah. Bill’s visitation will be held at Carbonara Funeral Home in Melrose Park on Sunday, March 8.Visitation from 3-8 PM. Those attending will have opportunities to share memories of Bill at 4 and 6 pm. Those who cannot attend are welcome to share a memory or a video on the Carbonara Funeral home website. Visitation Monday, March 9, from 9:30 until time of mass 10:30am at Ascension Church in Oak Park.

Mr. William Edward Rohaly

August 11, 1931 - February 28, 2026