Paul M. O’Loughlin passed away on March 6, 2025. Memorial contributions in his name will be placed in the Holy Angels Food Pantry fund.
From the obituary:
Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near.
Still loved, still missed and very dear.
— An Irish Toast
A Wonderful Life
Paul Michael O’Loughlin, a long time Sugar Grove resident and parishioner at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Aurora, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the age of 91, surrounded by his beloved family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Michael and Susan O’Loughlin, his son Robert O’Loughlin, his daughter-in-law Astrid O’Loughlin, and his brothers Joseph, Walter, and Francis, as well as a sister, Virginia, who passed in infancy.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lillian (nee Keefe), his children Maureen (Tim) McGee of Batavia, IL; Susan (Tom) Snyder of Elburn, IL; Claire (Bob) Fields of Woodridge, IL; Paul G. O’Loughlin of Escondido, CA; Kevin O’Loughlin (Michelle) of Longmont, CO; daughter-in-law Laura O’Loughlin of Kingston, IL and 18 grandchildren, all of whom held a very special place in his life.
Born on October 28, 1933 in Watertown, MA, Paul graduated from Boston College in 1955 and served in the Army at Fort Dix, NJ for a time before a 2-year deployment to Okinawa. He left the service in 1957 and married the love of his life, Lillian, on November 15, 1958.
Paul went on to a career in sales beginning in Boston, MA, relocating over the years to Harwich, MA, Bainbridge, OH, Plymouth MN, and finally the Chicago suburb of Aurora/Sugar Grove in 1979.
Looking forward to retirement in 1995, he became an avid cyclist biking 30 miles per day. He pedaled thousands of miles and despite double knee replacement surgery, he reached his goal of over 1,000 miles the year he turned 91.
Other special interests included ping pong, tennis, and racquetball. With a set of clubs always in the trunk, a round of golf with him proved enjoyable and a memorable experience. An avid reader, he was a frequent patron of the Aurora and Sugar Grove Public Libraries; he especially liked reading historical non-fiction as well as the news of the day. He was an ardent fan of puzzles, both jigsaw and crossword. Known to be ready with a joke, funny story or a fun fact, he loved and appreciated a good pun, often saying “a pun is the lowest form of humor…unless YOU think of it first.”
He will be dearly missed.
The family will receive friends at Holy Angels Church, corner of Hardin and Lancaster, Aurora for visitation and Funeral Mass on Tuesday 22 April 2025 at 11:00 a.m. A military graveside service will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on Wednesday 23 April 2025.
In lieu of flowers, feel free to make a donation to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute https://www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help, the American Heart Association https://www.lung.org/get-involved/ways-to-give, or The Holy Angels Food Pantry https://www.cffrv.org/profile/holy-angels-fund/.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Peace.
