Luciano Sestito Obituary

Luciano Antonio Sestito, 81, passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife, Maria, on Saturday, July 5, 2025 in Aurora, Illinois.
Luciano was born on October 27, 1943 to Angelo Vittorio and Maria (Macri) Sestito in Cutro, Italy. He graduated from the University of Florence, Italy with a PhD in Architecture, and later won a local competition becoming the City Architect for the City of Crotone, Italy, in the region of Calabria.
Luciano is survived by his wife of 37 years, Maria, son, Joel Vittorio (Ella Raich) of Bayside, Wisconsin, daughter, Catherine Maria (Kyle Hanratty) and infant granddaughter, Evelyn Rose Hanratty of Jacksonville, Florida.
He is also survived by a brother, Salvatore Romano (Hanneke Havers) of Grassina, Italy, brother-in-law, Dan (Nancy) Herkes of Sugar Grove, their daughters Elaine (Dave Northrop), Emily (Will Smith), and numerous nieces and nephews throughout the country of Italy.
Luciano is preceded in death by his parents, Angelo Vittorio and Maria (Macri) Sestito; sister, Antonietta Felicia (Modesto Torchia), brother, Rosario Pasquale, Giuseppe Salvatore (Italia), brother, Romano (2 years of age), nephew, Davide, and brother-in-law, John Herkes.
Luciano had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and education. After emigrating to the US, he graduated with two Masters degrees, Architecture and the Art of Teaching. Throughout his professional career Luciano worked as a licensed architect in the US. Among countless projects that he managed, Luciano was best remembered for his design of the City of Palatine Public Library. He retired from the Technology Center of DuPage as an instructor of Pre-Engineering and Pre-Architecture CAD, a department he personally established from its infancy.
Luciano was an active member of the Amici Club of Naperville where he enjoyed the company of many close and personal friends. He also was a member of Holy Angels Parish in Aurora where he and Maria would attend Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday afternoons. A voracious reader of history, world and local politics, Luciano enjoyed keeping informed on the current state of a airs and discussing the direction of the political and socioeconomic path of our planet. Luciano was well known for having a natural artistic gift. He thoroughly enjoyed cooking and hosting numerous parties for friends and family, mastering the piano, woodworking, stained glass, mosaics and watercolor painting. He was a man of strong values and was well-liked by everyone he met particularly due to his genuine warmth and gentle spirit.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be sent to the St. Joseph Indian School, 1301 N. Main Street, Chamberlain, South Dakota 57325.
The Sestito family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to Dr. Mohammed Raheem, Laura Neilsen, nurse Kevi and all of the Cancer Care team at Advocate Infusion Center who treated Luciano with the utmost dignity, respect and love throughout his valiant journey.
A private funeral and burial will be conducted at a later date.
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