Longtime Joliet resident, community volunteer and family matriarch
Catherine “Kay” Rose (Fitzgerald) Cook, a lifelong resident of Joliet and Lockport, died Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Lightways Hospice. She was cared for and surrounded by family during her final days. Her life spanned local neighborhoods, community organizations and small-business life that tied her to generations of area residents.
Born and raised in Joliet, Kay was the eldest child of Catherine and Raymond Fitzgerald and spent her childhood on Broadway Street, later moving to the corner of Hunter and Marion Streets. She completed her elementary education at St. Patrick School (class of 1953) and graduated from St. Francis Academy in 1957. Early in her working life she was employed by the Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and commuted to the company’s Rock Island office in Chicago by train.
In 1959 she met Freeman Cook Jr. on a blind date; the couple married June 11, 1960, and built a family and life together in Lockport, raising four children in homes on Milne Drive and Valley Lane. The family was involved in running WALCO Tool and Engineering, a business that played an important role in their lives.
Her community involvement extended beyond family and business. She was active in the Lockport Women’s Club and social circles tied to golf and recreation, including groups at Big Run Golf Club, Forest Country Club in Fort Myers and the Wilmington Recreation Club. Travel and family gatherings were central pleasures—trips to Lake of the Ozarks, New Orleans and a second home in Fort Myers were mentioned among favored destinations. She also enjoyed Friday outings with her sister to the beauty parlor and grocery store.
“She was surrounded by her large, loving family.”
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Freeman Cook Jr., daughters Kathleen Cook and Mary Alice Cook, her parents, and several siblings and in-laws. Survivors include two children, David M. Cook, Ph.D. of Barrington Hills, and Judith A. Elison of Jasper, Alabama; grandchildren Kathleen “Kate” Semler (and her husband Shane), Josh Elison, Hannah Yates (and her husband Kyle), and Amelia Cook; and great-grandchildren Weston and Birdie Semler and Haisley and Ella Yates.
- Funeral arrangements: Services and visitation information are being handled by Fred C. Dames Funeral Homes in Joliet (as listed in the published notice).
- Community connections: Longtime ties to St. Patrick School, St. Francis Academy, Lockport Women’s Club and WALCO Tool and Engineering.
- Family locations: Immediate family members live in Barrington Hills, Jasper, Alabama, and the Lockport/Joliet area.
| Life details | Information |
|---|---|
| Schools | St. Patrick School (1953); St. Francis Academy (1957) |
| Marriage | Married June 11, 1960, to Freeman Cook Jr. |
| Residence | Joliet and Lockport (Broadway St.; Hunter & Marion St.; Milne Dr.; Valley Ln.) |
The Cook family has long been part of the fabric of Joliet and Lockport — through local schools, small business and civic groups. Neighbors and friends who wish to send condolences or learn service details should contact the funeral home listed in the obituary notice.
