Visitation Information

Orville F Taylor (Ret. Lt. CFD)

Passed away on January 14, 2024

Orville F. Taylor of Munster, Indiana, was born and raised in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood.  

The son of Agnes (Mazurek) and Robert Taylor, Orville was a 1947 graduate of Mount Carmel High School, captain of the swim team, and proud supporter of the Caravan throughout his life.

As a young adult, he was a lifeguard at Rainbow Beach, played football for the Trumbull Blues, and participated on other sports teams in the park leagues of Chicago’s Southeast Side.

He wed the love of his life, Mary Kucharski, on July 14th, 1951, and they were married for 67 years until her passing in 2018.  

His maternal grandparents, Franciszek Mazurek and Marianna Strzelewicz, immigrated from Poland in 1880 to South Chicago. They were one of the founding families of Immaculate Conception Parish, beingthe third couple to be married there in 1882. Due to the rapidly expanding Polish immigrant community, they went on to help found St. Michael the Archangel Parish.  Both parishes were faith homes to Polish immigrants who worked at the US Steel South Works Plant on Chicago’s Southern Lakefront.  

His paternal heritage through the lineage of his great grandparents Sarah (Smith) and James Taylor – who were displaced by and survived the Great Chicago Fire - traces back to ancestors who came to the New World from England in the 1600s, served in the Continental Army during theRevolutionary War, and the Union Army during the Civil War.  

Orville served in the United States Army during the Korean War.  He was a 36-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, attaining the rank of Lieutenant.  During his career with the CFD, he served with Water Tower Company 2, Squad 5, Engine Company 101, Engine Company 72, and Engine Company 74.  He was also a proud member of the Brotherhood of the Barrel.

He is survived by his children Sue Ann Taylor, Michael (Diane) Taylor, Robert (Cathy) Taylor, and James (Chris) Taylor; grandchildren Kelly (Michael) McKay, Daniel (Christine) Taylor, Anne (Josh) Brown, Kevin (Sarah) Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Payton Preboy, Sarah Wallen, Lauryn (Charles) Whitlock; and 13 great grandchildren. 

Orville is also survived by his cousins John (late Judy) Wiatrowski, Jannie Mazurek-Pratte, Kathleen (late Don) Anderson; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Rita and Frank Kucharski; nieces/nephews Mark Kucharski, Linda and Ron Guranovich, Kim and Tom Rossiano, Audrey and John Kapovich, and many other relatives, and dear friends from the CFD and elsewhere.

He was predeceased by his daughter-in-law Jeanne Taylor, and brother/sister in-laws Joseph and Joan Kucharski, Marty and Dolores Kucharski, Joey Kucharski, and Andy Kucharski, Jr.

Even though the current sports landscape in Chicago is somewhat dismal, the blessings of a long life allowed Orville to witness several sports championships won by his beloved White Sox, Cubs, Bears, Cardinals (prior to the team moving to St. Louis), Blackhawks, Bulls and Sky.

He was a longtime member of Our Lady of Nazareth (formerly Annunciata) Catholic Church in Chicago, the same Parish where he and Mary tied the knot.

Visitation will be Thursday January 18th at Elmwood Chapel, 11200 S. Ewing Avenue, Chicago, from 3 to 8pm.  Funeral services Friday, January 19th, at 10:30am from Elmwood Chapel to 11am Mass at Our Lady of Nazareth Church.  Entombment Holy Cross Catholic Mausoleum. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The EMWQ Retirees', Widows' and Orphans' Assistance Fund of the Chicago Fire Department (www.widowsandchildren.org); Mount Carmel High School(www.mchs.org/give); or Our Lady of Nazareth Parish (11128 S. Avenue G Chicago, IL. 60617).