Marjorie A. Graham

Marjorie A. Graham

Marjorie A. Graham (nee Tynon), age 85, joined the angels after a battle with cancer on Thursday, January 1, 2015.

Survived by her husband, Charles; son, Kevin; and nieces, Sara (Sally) Niedrich, Jean Bagel and Jane Crnkovic.

Preceded in death by her father, James Tynon; mother, Madeline Feaser Tynon; stepmother, Josephine Tynon; and sisters, Mary Jane Crnkovic and Helen Niedrich.

Marge's first job was as a secretary at the Joliet Arsenal followed by appointment as secretary to the first three Joliet city managers. During this ten year period, she cared for an ailing mother. At about this time she had a blind date with Chuck with whom she would marry in 1960, and in 1969, son Kevin arrived.

She was a columnist for the Herald News, a teacher's assistant at Parks School and narrator for Chuck's travel films shown on Channel 6. Her travels included heli-hiking in Canada and a tour of the Orient (Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya). There were cruises to Alaska (her favorite), the Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas and a cruise that included a submarine dive off the Yucatan coast. There were rail tours of the Copper Canyon, a mule ride down the Grand Canyon, a hot air balloon ride over Albuquerque and a ride in a sailplane. Besides many tours in the U.S., she booked tours to Ireland, the U.K., France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Morroco and Yugoslavia.

Among her more memorable trips was in the U.K. three days after Princess Diana died. Another was an audience (along with 5,000 others) with Pope John Paul. An introduction of special guests included one for St. Raymond's choir from Joliet. She had no prior knowledge of their presence there.

Marge enjoyed getting together with her many friends. She belonged to several clubs, a den mother for the cub scouts, president of the Paulites church seniors group and a Eucharistic Minister. Later in life, she brought Holy Communion to the sick and was active at St. Paul the Apostle Church. And now she will add to her bucket list by soaring with the angels. According to her Irish heritage, we should cry at the birth of a baby and celebrate a life well-lived.

Funeral Services for Marjorie A. Graham will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at 9:15 a.m. from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Visitation Monday, 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

For more information: 815-741-5500 or visit her Book of Memories at www.fredcdames.com