Taking a Chance on God by John J. McNeill

An inspiring portrait, Taking a Chance on God follows the extraordinary life of 86-year-old John McNeill from his Buffalo, NY boyhood through his experiences as a POW in Nazi Germany, Vietnam peace promoter, leading LGBT-equality advocate, and loving partner of 46 years to Charles Chiarelli. The film highlights McNeill’s role as hero and pioneer of the international LGBT civil rights movement. For more information please call (847)223-8122 or log onto A Chance on God, a new documentary on the life of gay pioneer priest John McNeill is screening at festivals around the world. Kommen Foundation, the UP Church, or to Avon Centre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Susan G. Interment will follow at Avon Centre Cemetery in Grayslake, IL. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 10:30am at the funeral chapel.

A visitation is scheduled for Monday from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. (fiancée Darcy Hertel) McNeill, her 6 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and a loving caregiver Cveta. (Mary Kay) McNeill of Antioch, William J. Lynette is survived by her children Marie L. of Libertyville and sisters Audrey Duell Hall, Jean Duell Stickels both of Grayslake, Henrietta Duell (Floyd) Thibodeau of Appleton, WI, and Charlotte Duell Osborn Nelson of Rice Lake, WI. She was preceded in death by her parents Jennie (nee: Halvorson) and J. Lynette retired teaching from the Avon Grade School. She worked many years as a substitute teacher in the immediate area of her home in Lake County and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Carthage College in Kenosha in 1973. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Grayslake, and also a member of the Ansel Brainerd Cook Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Lynette was an avid genealogist, taking many trips to find her long-lost relatives. and was a life member of the United Protestant Church in Grayslake. She married Roy Joseph McNeill on Jat the Grayslake Congregational Church on Center St. Hough Company in Libertyville and for the Grayslake Gelatin Factory. Prior to her marriage, she worked at the Frank G. Born in Gages Lake, IL as the first daughter of six children to Jennie and Jeremiah Porter Duell of Grayslake, IL, she graduated Libertyville Township High School in 1937 and attended one year at North Park College in Chicago.

Lynette Muriel (nee: Duell) McNeill, 95, passed away peacefully after a long illness, on Thursday at the family home her husband Roy built in Lake Villa, IL in the 1960’s.

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Taking a Chance on God by John J. McNeill