Len DiJohn loved life. He loved his family. And he liked them too. A lifelong Chicagoan, he loved his Cubs and lived to see them win the World Series. Finally.

He met the love of his life, Florence, when they were teenagers. They were each others’ best friends and partners in crime. They traveled the world with Hefty from Tokyo to Australia to Rome. Len and Flo are what they mean when they say “happily ever after. in sickness and in health.” Together with their family, they fought Parkinson’s and cancer like the doctors had never seen.

Len and Florence had three children they loved more than anything — Tony, Pete and Nina; and he loved their spouses Rob and Linda as his own.
He was proud of each of his children for the adults they became and the families they went on to raise.

He couldn’t be a prouder Poppy of Tara, Jenna, Bella, Joseph and Luke.

When he retired after a 50-year career as an account executive in the grocery business, he was honored at a huge industry banquet. He was humbled by the standing ovation he received from a ballroom full of colleagues and his children who were there to share his proudest moment.

To know Len is to love him. His friends and colleagues as well as family always made time to write, call and stop by to visit for years after he retired.

They meant the world to Len too. He saved every card and letter. And cherished every friendship.

Although he was battling illness for a long time, he found something to be happy about every single day.
Without fail. In the worst of times he had a smile and a laugh and a really really good story.
He could not have squeezed an ounce more out of life.
He leaves us with lessons about life and love and family. Great memories. And enough funny stories and sayings for a lifetime of laughter.

He was simply the best.

We are celebrating his life at a wake Friday 3-9 at Salerno’s Funeral Home, Rosedale Chapel, 450 W. Lake St., Roselle, IL (630) 889-1700 .  Funeral Mass on Saturday at 10 at St. John the Evangelist Church 502 S. Park Blvd, Streamwood, Il.