Rev. Byron Giles Maher

BURLINGTON - Rev. Byron Giles Maher, 85, died Sunday, May, 23, 2010, Pentacost Sunday, at St. Monica's Senior Citizen Home in Racine. He was born August 18, 1924, in Chicago, Ill., to Edward B. and Lillian M. (nee: Maddock) Maher. He spent his early life on the Northwest side of Chicago, Ill. He was educated at St. Priscilla Grade School, Quigley Preparatory Seminary, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic Priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago, Ill. on May 3, 1950. Fr. Byron served at St. Angela, St. Frances of Rome, St. Ann in Lansing, Ill., Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary, Santa Maria Del Poiolo in Mundelein, Ill., Old St. Patrick in Chicago, Ill., and as Pastor of Transfiguration in Wauconda, Ill. for 14 years. He also helped out at various churches, St. Mary's in Burlington, St. Theresa in Powers Lake, and anywhere a Priest was needed. Loving brother of the late Dorothy Maher, Sr. Merici Maher OSF, Mary McInerney (the late Bill McInerney), and the late Richard Maher (Ann Maher); uncle to William (Linda) McInerney, Patty Maher, Tom (Nancy) McInerney, Rick (Maria) Maher, Tony (Maureen) McInerney, Mike (Catherine) Maher, Tim (Heidi) McInerney, Pat (Sue) McInerney, and John (Sharon) McInerney; and great-uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was devoted friends to Betty Remer and her daughters, Ruth (Jerry) DeLay, Mary Meilton, Irene (James) Straube, Betty's grandsons, Jason (Jodie) Straube and Corey (Jessica) Straube, Peg Ryan, Pat Hackett, Mary Kirby and her family, and many friends in the parishes he served. He was preceded in death by his cousins, Art and Pearl McGovern; many aunts and uncles; special friends, Marge Mulvihill, Jean (Don) Broholm, Jean (Dr. Joe) Murphy, Rosemary Schneider, Terry Church, and numerous other friends. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and an Alumnus of the Serra Club. He was involved with both the Civil Air Patrol and the Fourth Battalion of the Chicago, Ill. Fire Department. He was a Hospital Chaplain and a CAP Chaplain in Illinois. His hobbies included piloting private planes, which he did for 12 years, photography, golf, traveling, baseball, softball, football, and umpiring. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Burlington with Rev. Jim Volkert officiating. Burial will take place on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at 11 a.m. with Bishop Thad Jakubowski officiating at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Ill. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, from 3 until 6 p.m. at St. Mary's Church. A Memorial Mass will be said in honor of Fr. Byron at Transfiguration Church in Wauconda, Ill. at a later date. Memorials have been suggested for Masses for Fr. Byron or for donations to the Priests' Retirement and Mutual Aid Association (PRMAA), St. Mary's Catholic Church in Burlington, or to St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. SCHUETTE-DANIELS FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY 625 Browns Lake Drive Burlington 262-763-3434 www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com