Joey Ware

Joseph Mark Ware, cherished son, father, and beloved brother, passed away unexpectedly on December 29, 2024, at the young age of 25. Born on December 14, 1999, in Elmhurst, Illinois, Joey was a radiant presence in the lives of all who knew him.

He leaves behind his loving parents, Marie and Mark Ware, and his siblings—Liam, Brianna, and Autumn Ware—who will forever carry his memory in their hearts. As a proud father, he is survived by his precious daughter, Vera Jacobs. Joey's spirit also lives on through his many aunts and uncles: Bill (Barbara Turner) Ware, Michael (Cindy) Ware, Scott (Terri) Ware, Douglas (Wanda) Green, Karen (Kirk Kron) Roby, and Kathy Duvall, along with numerous cousins and extended family members who will miss him deeply.

Joey was known for his beautiful soul and the joy he brought to those around him. He was an active member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, where he found community and connection. His formative years were spent at Notre Dame Academy for grade school, and he proudly graduated from Holy Cross High School.

The love he had for Jesus and his parents were unmatched. Joey was born with Jesus in his heart each and every day until his passing on December 29th . Loved eternally since the day he was a sparkle in his daddy’s eye. A dandy boy with a magical smile and gorgeous Romanian eyes. Eyes that captured his mommas heart at the first glance. From that moment we prayed for blessings for Joey. We prayed hard for him to be our son and God answered our prayers. Joseph was our Joey that we adopted as our first son on September 11, 2002. We all dressed in red white and blue and Joey ran through the courthouse with a US flag. He started our small family. An avid sports lover, he played soccer, basketball, baseball and football from Pre-k to a senior at Holy Cross High School. Joey Knew the stats and players of most sports and loved to watch games with his dad. 10 months earlier this year he celebrated the birth of his only child Vera. Joey was never ashamed to be a witness to God and praised Jesus. He read the Bible and would be ready to tell you everything he believed. A lover of all conspiracies and aliens. We will miss his tight soulful hugs. Our lives will never be the same. 

To honor Joey’s life, a funeral mass will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church (1925 Lewiston Drive) at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 11th. Following the mass, family and friends are invited to gather at the church’s community center to celebrate Joey's incredible life and the love he shared.

The family kindly requests that contributions be made to Landmark Recovery Center in Joey's memory. Those wishing to share a memory of Joey or leave a heartfelt message for his family are encouraged to visit the guestbook below. Joey will be remembered for his bright spirit, his love for family, and the incredible mark he left on our hearts.