Donna M. Rowan

Donna Byrnes Rowan

Donna Byrnes Rowan was born December 19, 1934, in Chicago, the daughter of the late Arthur Byrnes and the late Hazel (nee Harper) Byrnes. She died peacefully at home on December 3, 2025, at age 90. Donna married the late Dr. William A. "Bee" Rowan in 1953. Loving mother of Denise (Frank) Van Boldrik, Dr. Daniel (Dr. Susan McNicholas) Rowan, William A. (Eileen) Rowan, Marianne (William) Leslie, and Jeanne (Thomas) Hickey. Beloved grandma of Michael (Jacqueline), Kelly (Daniel) Lowery, Anne Marie Van Boldrik, Aileen (James) Lysaught, Dr. Daniel (Dr. Kathleen Adams) Rowan, Megan (Luke) Connelley, Michael (Brianna), Brian (Nicole), William, Edward (Colleen) Rowan, Andrew Harrigan, Tara, Marieclaire, Griffin Leslie, Patrick, Catherine, and Owen Hickey. Cherished great grandmother to Madelyn, Molly and Jane Van Boldrik, Rowan and Liam Lysaught, Noah and Claire Rowan, Naomi and James Connelley, Luca, Ava, Ryan, Brendan, Lyla, Willie, Riley, Conor, and Jack Rowan.

She was the beloved little sister of the late Hazel Whalen, the late Jeanne (the late Tom) Scott, the late Elaine (the late Jay) Bryar, the late Arthur (the late Jeanne), the late Francis "Rainey" (the late Mary Jeanne), and her treasured twin brother, the late Richard "Dick" (the late Dolores) Byrnes. She was the loving sister-in- law to the late Thomas (the late Virginia), the late Dr. Robert (the late Lurline), the late Fr. Gerald, the late James (the late Margery) Rowan, and the late Shirley (the late Thomas) Schultz. She was the beloved "Aunt Donna" to dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Donna was a proud graduate of Our Lady of Peace Elementary School and Aquinas High School, and was a faithful attendee at St. Barnabas Church. She was fondly remembered as the "Jackie Kennedy of South Shore" for her effortless grace, beauty, and charm. She was her husband Bee's tireless assistant at his dental practice on East 79th Street in South Shore, and later at his practice at 111th and Artesian in Morgan Park. She was a wonderful cook, the original workout queen, the consummate hostess of innumerable parties at her house, and had a cousin custom build a dining room table that could seat 20. She loved nothing more than presiding over a full house of guests, particularly at her legendary South Side Irish Parade parties, and raising a glass at her giant table and toasting to her husband's favorite saying: "I'm glad my grandfather didn't miss the boat!" Her favorite saying was "I never met a potato that I didn't like." She will be greatly missed by hundreds of friends, patients, and loved ones in Chicago and Long Beach, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Park Lawn 10833 LaPorte Ave. Oak Lawn, IL 60453 https://www.parklawn.com/donate.html. An Irish wake will be held at Donnellan Funeral Home, 10525 S. Western, Chicago, on Friday December 12, 2025, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, December 13th, family and friends will meet directly at St. Barnabas Church, 10134 S. Longwood Dr., Chicago for Mass 10:00 a.m. Interment private. For info 773-238-0075 or sign guestbook at www.donnellanfuneralhome.com.