Beloved Member Of the WJOL Family Passes Away
A WJOL family member has passed away. Phil Cantu was the man behind the WJOL studio board for high school football games and weekend programming. He always ready to help and had a smile on his face. He passed away surrounded by his family at the age of 45. He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters ages 3 and 2. Read full obituary from Tezak’s Funeral home below.
Philip Bozzelli Cantu
March 5, 1979 — September 2, 2024
Philip “Phil” Bozzelli Cantu, beloved husband, father, son and brother passed from this life on September 2, 2024 in Joliet with his family by his side.
Loving father, “dada” of Madeline and Bailey Cantu. Phil is survived by the love of his life, Mallory Hewlett, his parents Genaro and Phyllis (Bozzelli) Cantu, sister Mariana (Joe) Heredia, and brother Genaro Cantu III. Many cousins and friends also survive.
Preceded in death by his grandparents, Genaro and Maria Cantu and Dominick and Anna Bozzelli, his uncle Philip (his namesake), uncle Robert Bozzelli, aunt Annette Bozzelli and uncle Robert Cantu.
Born in Chicago on March 5, 1979, and graduated from Bolingbrook High School and the Illinois Media School. Phil worked at WJOL radio for over 20 years as a board operator and producer. He loved his work and enjoyed being behind the board for live shows and broadcasts. He has many positive memories and friendships from his work there.
Phil adored being a father and loved his daughters with all his heart. He would do anything to make them smile, including dress in an inflatable dinosaur costume, paint endless pictures, or build block towers as high as they would go.
He will be remembered for his easy going personality, sense of humor and his exceptional kindness and generosity. He was also a lover of animals, especially cats and dogs.
Phil enjoyed traveling with his family. He loved going to Arizona for Spring Training, and visiting new places to watch team sports. It was his goal to visit every Major League Baseball field in the United States. A goal that his daughters will one day achieve in his memory.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Scott Slocum for the support he provided to Phil in the last months of his life.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to his daughters’ educations or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
A celebration of Phil’s life will begin with memorial visitation on Friday, September 6, 2024 at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Prayers in the funeral home chapel will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2024 then driving in procession to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 416 N. Chicago Street, in downtown Joliet for a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 10:00 a.m. Cremation rites have been accorded.
