Cornell "Cal" Ladner

Cornell “Cal” Alexis Ladner, age 73, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 9, 2025, after courageously fighting cancer. He was a generous and outgoing man who put others before himself and could enjoy speaking with people from all walks of life, always treating everyone the same.

Born and raised in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Cornell attended St. Joseph's Academy, Our Lady of the Gulf Parochial School, and graduated high school from St. Stanislaus College in 1970. He received his A.S. degree from Pearl River Junior College and his B.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Cornell lived most of his life in Illinois, which he came to love, especially his home in Bartlett, Illinois. After a long and successful career in sales, he retired several years ago.

Cornell was the son of Cornelius J. Ladner and Bonnelle Price Ladner. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Mary Ladner.

He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Betty Bevilacqua Ladner of Bartlett, Illinois and her children, Carlo Donny Bevilacqua and his wife Theresa and Michael Anthony Bevilacqua (and his two sons Rocco and Vinny); his siblings Stanford Giles Ladner and his wife Sandra Throop Ladner, and their children Elizabeth Bonnelle Ladner and James Stanford Ladner (wife Jessica Kerr and two daughters, Abigail Kerr Ladner and Bethany Kerr Ladner); Kathi Denise Ladner; and Desmond Cyril Ladner and his wife Marilyn North Ladner, and his children Sheri Ladner Repicci (husband Greg Repicci and son Elliott Repicci) and Andrew Joseph Ladner (wife Hannah Dudley Ladner).

Cornell had a great sense of humor and enjoyed sharing cartoons with family and friends, especially ones that showed the funny side of life. Always quick with a joke, he was known for his generous spirit and selfless nature, always putting other’s needs before his own. He had a gift for connecting with people from all walks of life and treated each person he met with equal kindness and respect. He made sure to check in with his nieces and nephews regularly, sending his love even though they didn't live near each other physically. With the advent of text messaging, he would often send news articles or things of interest to family because he thought they might enjoy them. If he could help out, he would, always offering assistance and support to those he cared about.

Cornell loved being with family, cooking, and playing golf. His favorite dish to prepare and eat was shrimp po-boys. He treasured his wife Betty; her son Donny and his wife; his siblings; and his nieces and nephews. Surrounded by his wife, Betty, and brother, Stanford, his final days were marked by calls from his nieces and nephews which really touched him.

Cornell treasured his time at St. Stanislaus College and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart who taught there, as well as the friends he made, especially Joe Monti and Pete Frank.

Even in his final moments, Cornell's sense of humor remained intact. After receiving Last Rites in the hospital, he told his brother, "He (the priest) said I was good to go."

Cornell will be remembered for his generous spirit, his quick wit, and his unwavering devotion to family and friends. His legacy of kindness and his ability to find joy and humor in life will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

A wake to celebrate Cornell’s life will be held at Salerno’s Chapels (459 W. Lake Street, Roselle, IL 69172) on Friday, June 13, 2025 from 3 – 9 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at St. Peter Damian Catholic Church (131 S Crest Ave, Bartlett, IL 60103). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Cornell Alexis Ladner to St. Stanislaus College (304 South Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, MS 39520).