EAST PEORIA - Gerald "Jerry" Roy Girardi, 81, of East Peoria, Ill., died at Snyder Village in Metamora, Ill., at 11:20 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012.

He was born on May 5, 1931, in Peoria to George and Kathryn Beoletto Girardi. He married Angela Perino in 1959 in Tampico, Ill. To this marriage five children were born, John (Jennifer) Girardi of Chicago, George (Teresa) of Fort Collins, Colo., Maria Girardi of Columbia, SC, Joe (Kim) Girardi of New York, N.Y., and Jerry Girardi of Chicago. He also is survived by six grandchildren.

His wife, Angela, preceded him in death on June 28, 1984. He also was preceded in death by two brothers, George and Ronald.

Jerry served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Later he worked in construction sales for National Gypsum Co. and also worked as a bricklayer.

He enjoyed coaching his children's sports teams, which he did for many years, and also was very active at Sacred Heart Grade School and Spalding High School, where he was past president of the Booster Club. He was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in East Peoria. He also was a member of AMVETS Post 64 in Peoria, Roanoke American Legion Post 809, Laborers Union 165 in Peoria, Knights of Columbus Council in East Peoria and the Italian-American Society in Peoria.

There will be a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Peoria. Father Larry Zurek will officiate. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in East Peoria, with a prayer service at 5:45 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Tampico, IL, at 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Snyder Village. Jerry's memorial website may be found atwww.deitersfuneralhome.com, where online condolences may be sent to the family.

Published in Peoria Journal Star on October 12, 2012