Joan M. Borrelli, age 96, a resident of Franklin, WI, passed away on Monday, March 17, 2025.  She was born August 5, 1928 in Chicago, IL to Joseph & Marie Zikuda.

Joan loved her large family. Survived by her children: Terry Snower, Barbara Nelson, Bill (Rita), AJ (Teresa); her grandchildren: Steve (Jocelyn), Craig (Kristen), Daniel (Theresa), Lara (B), Ty, Joe (Gerry), Nick (Sara), Tony (Stacie), Jeff (Sarah), Jackie (Ryan), Julia; her great grandchildren: Ryan (Kellie), Taylor, Lexi, Bella, Gabe, Kelsey, Grace, David, Seth, Jessa, Eden, Eric, Ayden, Sean, Ryan, Rachel, Will, Miranda, Collette, Vanessa,Sutton Joan, Logan & Chloe; and her great-great grandchildren: Mia & Arvid. She was preceded in death by her husband William; daughter Beverly and longtime companion and committed partner, Bob Slottag, a retired Marine.

The only beloved child of Marie and Joseph Zikuda. She grew up on the Southside of Chicago. She attended Wilson Jr. College where she met and married her college sweetheart, a football star from St. Leo high school, William Borrelli. William was a veteran of the Navy during WW2. He too, was an only child. They went on to raise 5 children: Therese "Terry", Barbara, Beverly, William "Bill" & Andrew. Joan was a full time mom for many years, and eventually went into sales. When a job transfer took this Southside city family to the country town of McHenry, IL, it was an adventure to learn small town culture and ways.

She believed in Catholic school education and good study habits. She raised her children to know their Catholic faith, converting to Catholicism for family unity. A faith she embraced her whole life, making her Confirmation with her daughter Beverly, she choose, Monica, patron saint of mothers, as her Confirmation name. She taught faith, values, and manners to her 5 children.

Her life was filled with a life long passion for reading. Her hobbies were following Cubs baseball, a life long fan, She traveled to east and west coast tours of stadiums. She drove cross country to see her family after retiring to Bradenton, FL. Where she enjoyed following spring training baseball teams. She also enjoyed an afternoon at Arlington Park race track and winning at times.

In her retirement condo, Joan also ran the card playing groups for her clubhouse. She was very bright and liked winning. Other hobbies included: knitting and games. Her fun spirit kept her close to her 11 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and her 2  newest great great children!

She moved back to Wheaton in 2017 to be near family and lived independently for 5 years. Her vision began to fail which kept her from driving, but still made friends in her apartment building. Her life long childhood friends stayed connected since grammar school as young mothers . They called it "Club", meeting up for reunions for 60 years. During the last 2 years of her life, she lived in Franklin, WI, near family in assisted living where she adjusted to accepting help and made friends with many.  Her low vision kept her from driving, but, she learned to love audio books.

In leiu of flowers, donations to Spectrios Low Vision Center , Wheaton Eye Clinic foundation.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187, where a funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.