Constance Byrne

Constance Byrne (Connie or "Momo" to her grandchildren), age 95, passed away peacefully on January 31, 2021. She married the love of her life, Frank Owen Byrne, on May 2nd, 1947 who preceded her in death in 1986.

She was a wonderful mother, a strong, independent woman: a true role model in the days when it was not customary to juggle family and career.

Some 14 years after her marriage and six children later she returned to school to finish her journalism degree at Northwestern. Ten years after she completed her degree and seven children later, she returned to school again to become an Illinois- certified teacher. She taught at the Westmoor Elementary School in the Northbrook School District 28 until the age of 69. Years later she was remembered as the "best teacher I've ever had." With hands-on activities and teaching real life skills, she showed learning could be fun and meaningful.

Connie was nominated for the Woman of the month award and was recalled as "a wonderful mother and a charming and gracious hostess". She also managed to serve her community as vice-president and program chair of the North Shore Auxiliary of the Chicago Child Care Society and served on the Girl Scout Board.

She remained very active during retirement years, travelling as far as Egypt with a church group, being an active member of the North Shore Senior Center, enlarging her circle of lifetime friendships. Family occasions also took her out to California, Texas, even as far as Australia, Austria, Mauritius, the Reunion Island and back to her roots in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

You are never too old was her motto and she even formed a chorus when the Vi at the Glen opened in 2002. She saw this as an opportunity to create harmony, with both song and friendship. She never lost her love of music. As a child she saved her milk money for singing lessons. It paid off as she sang for many years at the OLPH choir and organized annual Christmas caroling parties. As a close family friend put it, she is having a great time singing in the heavenly choirs. She knows she was loved and cherished.

Her greatest joy was her family. loving mother of Connie Meek (Brian), the late Debbie Bakanec (Larry), Wendy Dubreuil (Alain), Melanie Smith (Ronald), Lisa Byrne-Prescott, Frank Byrne Jr. (Arlene) and Mary Prochotsky (Dave).The cherished grandmother of Chris (Nina), Amanda (Matt), Lexi (Steven), Allison, Brett (Jessamyn), Catherine (Frank), Eric, Stephanie (Michael), Charles (Robin), Jessica (Brian), Jonathan (Makenna), Andrew, Michael, Robert, Kimberly (Ty), Sidra, Josh (Paige) and Jenny (Garret). Adoring great grandmother of Ella, Lucas, Oliver, Claire, Leo, Mathew, Gracelyn, Gabriel, Mathis, JT, Olivia, Owen, Liam, Abigail, Eleanor, Ethan, Alex, and Mila.

Due to Covid restrictions, services will be held privately on February 6, 2021 at N.H. Scott & Hanekamp Funeral Home, Glenview.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Our Lady of Perpetual Help,(on memo line Sister Paulanne's Needy Family Fund), 1775 Grove St., Glenview, Illinois 60025.

A Memorial Mass and Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on August 7, 2021 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Glenview.