Kelly Christopher Sheridan

Kelly Christopher Sheridan, age 67, of Chicago, IL passed away Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Bluhm Heart Hospital of Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Kelly will be cremated, and a celebration of life will be held after the holidays. Details will follow at a later date.

Kelly was born October 1, 1957 in South Bend, IN, the third son of Tom and Connie (Bailey) Sheridan.  Kelly spent most of his youth in Hanover, IL until he attended St. Louis University and Loras College. After school he moved to Chicago, a city he fell in love with and which he called home. It was there in December 1984 that he met his wife and soul mate, Karen (Godzicki) who he married November 12, 1989. They had a 40-year love affair.

Kelly would not want to have his jobs, achievements and awards spelled out here. So instead, I will tell you of just a few of his attributes that could be a lesson for us all.

Kelly had the gift of laughter which he shared with everyone he met. His perspective on life was to fill each day with joy. When he knew his days were numbered, he told me he didn’t want any sad faced, weepy eyed people visiting.  He wanted to laugh and make his visitors laugh with him. His outgoing personality and love of life attracted people to him. You couldn’t be in a room with Kelly without having fun.

Kelly also fought for the underdog (Cubs and Bears excluded), the less fortunate and those who just needed a kind word or a helping hand – those who needed a friend. And he did this not because he was looking for a heavenly reward or to evade the fires of hell (neither concept did he believe). He did it because it was the right thing to do. He knew our time on this earth was limited, and so we should do a kindness every day. (Cubs & Bears fans excluded.)

Finally, Kelly was a fighter. (Just ask Cubs and Beas fans.) He fought for equality and justice and especially for those whom he loved – his family and friends. He fought to live each day to its fullest and at the end, for each minute of his life. Palliative care asked him one day  ‘what makes you such a fighter?’ He said ‘growing up with seven brothers.’ (There’s that humor again.) And he was persistent about what he fought for. He would have married his wife sooner but it took six proposals before she accepted.  Before he died, he told his wife his greatest accomplishment was marrying her.

Kelly is survived by his siblings: Tim (Judy) Sheridan, Phil (Trish) Sheridan, Patrick (Juie Weaver) Sheridan, Anthony (Tara) Sheridan, Terry Sheridan, Kerry (Rob) McCullough, Danny Sheridan and Clancy (Noreen) Sheridan. He has over 35 people who call him Uncle Kelly. And he is survived by the hundreds and hundreds of smiling faces he’s left behind.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to one of the following organizations providing services and support to children and adults with developmental disabilities:

                Trinity Services

                Giant Step Services

                Oak-Leyden Developmental Services

                The ARC of Illinois

Luncheon Celebrating the Life of Kelly C Sheridan

Friday, April 25.2025

12n-2p

White Eagle Banquets

6839 N Milwaukee Ave

Niles, Il (847-647-0660)

RSVP to Karen by April 14, 2025

773.612.3751

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