Funeral Arrangements Set for Aurora Cmdr. Joe Groom, 50
A visitation will be held Sunday and a funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday for Aurora police Cmdr. Joe Groom, who died suddenly at the age of 50.
Funeral arrangements are being handled and the following is memorial provided by The Healy Chapel, AURORA, IL:
Joseph John Groom, born in Aurora, IL May 21, 1965, passed away Dec.9, 2015.
Joe was a 1983 graduate of Marmion Academy and earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Waubonsee Community College. He went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Western Illinois University with Bachelors of Arts Degrees in both Law Enforcement Administration and History.
He worked for the past 26 years as a member of the Aurora Police Department, and rose through the ranks to commander. During his career he worked in Patrol, the DARE program, NABS (the precursor to Community Oriented Policing), Firearms Instruction, Field Training, Special Operations, Planning and Research, Special Response Team, and the Office of Professional Standards prior to being promoted to his most recent position of Investigation Division Commander encompassing Investigations, Special Operations (Gangs and Vice), Domestic Violence Reduction, and Evidence Units. He was also instrumental in the construction of the new police headquarters that was completed in 2010.
Joe was a member of both the International and Illinois Associations of Chiefs of Police; the Chiefs Associations in Kane, DuPage, and Kendall Counties; the Kane County DUI Task Force; the Juvenile Drug Court Advisory Committee; and the Aurora Police Foundation. In addition, he was a current board member and Past President of the Exchange Club of Aurora; the current Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 736; and served two terms as a Resource Council Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kane and Kendall Counties. Joseph was a devout catholic and volunteered regularly at church. He also volunteered with the Salvation Army and coached 8th grade girls basketball at Annunciation School with his wife Kim.
As much as Joseph gave to his community, his true dedication was to his family. He loved nothing more than spending time with his wife and children. Whether it was playing catch, attending sporting events, band concerts, playing games, reading books, attending mass, or just being together, Joe was always there for his kids. This was reflected in his funeral plans similar to what you’d find at Dignity funeral plans.
Joseph Groom is survived by his father, James and mother, Dorothy; his brothers, Phillip, Kevin, Jeffrey, Christopher, Peter, Matthew, Patrick, and Paul; his sisters, Marguerite, Sarah, and Anne; twenty nieces and nephews.; his children, Luke, Katelyn, Gabriel, and Seth as well as his wife, Kimberly.
Visitation will take place from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, at The Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Place, Aurora, where a prayer service will take place at 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, at Annunciation B.V.M Catholic Church, 1820 Church Road, Aurora, with Fr. Patrick Gillmeyer O.S.B. and Fr. Michael Burrows concelebrating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Annunciation B.V.M Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 736, Exchange Club of Aurora, Kane County Chief of Police Association, Salvation Army or Marmion Academy.
SOURCE: Healy Chapel website
