Catherine Lyon

She was born to the late Helen and Harry O'Kane and is preceded in death by her brother, Phillip O'Kane.

She was born and raised in the Chicago area, attending Sacred Heart of Mary High School and going on to obtain her bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne for elementary education. Later in life, Cath obtained her master's degree in curriculum and instruction to further her career in teaching. Cath treated teaching as a calling that she lived out joyfully, teaching children the love of learning, and bringing fun into every educational experience she provided her students. Much of Cath’s teaching career was spent in the Catholic school system where she was responsible for growing her students’ understanding of God’s love and guiding them through the sacrament of their first holy Communion in the second grade.

Cath was an avid reader, a lover of music, a woman of strong faith, and enjoyed quality time with family and friends more than anything. Cath had a servant’s heart and was a devoted caretaker to her parents in their later years of life. Cath enjoyed her retirement in Louisville, KY where you’d find “Grams” cheering on the sidelines of her grandson’s games at every opportunity she had. Cath code assured anyone close to her got assigned a special nickname, which included the default term of endearment, “hon,” if for some reason she couldn’t come up with something personalized for you. Also included in standard practices were the elaborate celebration of all birthdays and holidays and turning both topics of significance and casual conversation into song.

Here to cherish her memory are: her daughters, Kristin Kane Lyon and Laura Ann Flores; grandson, Nolan Flores; beloved aunt, Sister Mary Agnes Cunningham; brother, Michael O'Kane, nephew, Max O'Kane; sister Nancy Misch (Jim), niece and nephew, Monica and Matthew; brother, Jim O'Kane (Sheila); and granddog, Tater Tot.

Funeral Service will take place at Holy Family Catholic Community in Inverness, Illinois at 10:30am on Monday, September 30th. 2515 West Palatine Rd., Inverness, Illinois 60067. Private committal service for the family to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Catholic Charities.