Dino F. Romanucci

Dino F. Romanucci, age 93, of Elmwood Park, Illinois, passed peacefully on January 9, 2026, surrounded by his family and all of their love.

Dino was the devoted and caring husband of Anna Maria Romanucci, whose love and partnership were the foundation of his life. He was a proud and adoring father to his sons, Antonio (Andrea) and Gabriele (Maria), and a deeply cherished grandfather to Roberta (Andrea), Elizabeth, Elisa (John), John (Ashleigh), Elena, Isabella, and Ariana. His joy multiplied with his great-grandchildren, Emma, Michael, Mila, Vince, Francesca, and Gaia, each of whom brought him immense pride and happiness.

He was born in ChocolateTown USA – Hershey, PA in 1932.  His parents, Emidio and Emelia, took him back to Italy at the age of 2 and he lived in Ascoli Piceno for the next 17 years when the itch to finally see the America he saw only in film and see it in real life.  He went back to Hershey for a while before he was drafted and served in the Korean War.  He was a proud US war veteran and he attended Bradley University for three years.  He then met his wife of 68 years through a series of love letters across the Atlantic.  He went to Italy to meet her and they instantly fell in love and married on the same trip.  They moved back to the United States and raised their family in Chicago and much of the family stayed close to them, just like he wanted it.  

A man of extraordinary work ethic, Dino believed deeply in honesty, integrity, kindness, and perseverance. An entrepreneur at heart, he built and operated multiple travel agencies and restaurants, serving tens of thousands of Italian meals to families and communities throughout Illinois. His food nourished more than bodies—it brought people together, just as he always did.

Dino loved Italian music, followed AC Milan with unwavering devotion—never missing a match—and found great joy in travel, especially to his cherished Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Food was always at the center of his world, and family meals were sacred. Pasta, of course, was non-negotiable. He never let anyone forget how good he was at Bocce!

A spiritual man, Dino believed strongly in the Lord and held a special devotion to his patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua. He instilled in his children and grandchildren the importance of education, hard work, and building a secure and meaningful life. Above all else, he taught by example the value of family. Though serious by nature, Dino laughed most freely when surrounded by the joyful chaos of his loved ones—voices overlapping, stories shared, and love filling the room. Family was his ultimate joy.

Visitation will be held on January 13, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Rago Brothers Funeral Home, 7751 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, Illinois. A Funeral Mass will follow at St. Celestine Church, 3020 North 76th Court, Elmwood Park, Illinois. Lunch will be served following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Dino’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation. https://www.parkinson.org/

Dino Romanucci leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, hard work, and family unity that will live on through generations. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.