Deacon Joseph G. Krakora, 97, died Nov. 3. He was ordained in 1978 and served at St. Mary Parish, Lake Forest. 

Born in Chicago, he was raised in Berwyn. He attended Michigan State University, where he played basketball, and married his wife, Marie, in 1949.

He worked as an auditor for Shell Oil, working in several states, and then joined Payco American, and he and Marie and their six children settled in Lake Forest.

He discerned his vocation to the diaconate after the death of his fourth child, Eileen, in 1975.

He and Marie worked with young couples preparing for marriage and he presided over numerous marriage ceremonies and baptized hundreds of babies, including his grandchildren and some of his great-grandchildren. He also served as associate director of the Office of the Diaconate.

In addition to Eileen, Deacon Krakora was preceded in death by Marie in 2012 and his son Brian four years later. He is survived by his children Janice Krakora-Looby, Susan Krakora, Joseph Krakora and Kevin Krakora; 15 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.