William “Billy” Hosty, 62, of Forest Park, died on Sept. 24, 2015. He had spent the last five months beating lung cancer after successfully wrestling skin cancer to the floor several years earlier. In the end, though, it was his huge heart that gave out. He died as he lived, quietly and without fanfare.
Born on Jan. 27, 1953, he was a prolific Forest Park volunteer, devoting many hours to Summerfest, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Holiday Walk. But Forest Park residents will remember him most as the guy in the Indiana Jones hat walking to Thornton’s for his morning paper or sitting at the end of the bar at Healy’s with his Bud Light.
Bill Hosty is survived by his sisters, Mary Win Connor, Maureen VonDeBur, Beth Behrmann and Irene “Bunky” Hosty; his nieces, Kerry Baldwin and Erin Behrmann; his nephews, Bill Behrmann and Rory Connor; his aunt, Patricia Donoghue; and his many cousins. His death creates a void in the lives of Clan Hosty, but they will rally as they always do to help heal the hurt. He leaves a legacy of loyalty and caring that will never be matched.
Visitation was held on Sept. 28 at Forest Park’s Zimmerman Harnett Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Luke Church in River Forest on Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. Additional information is available at www.ZimmermanHarnett.com and 708-366-2200.
