Maria R. Byk

Maria was born in Guantanamo, Cuba. While a generally soft spoken and genial person, Maria possessed tremendous courage and inner strength. She was sent to the United States alone by her parents at age 14 to escape the Cuban communist revolution. Several months after arriving, she enrolled at Holy Family Academy in Beaverville, Ill. After high school, she graduated from Central College in Pella, Iowa where she majored in English literature. In both schools, she made many friendships that she maintained and cherished throughout her life. After college, she relocated to Chicago where she met her husband Anthony Byk, to whom she was happily married for 44 years.

Maria taught for Chicago Public Schools for 14 years. Missing the warm sunshine of Cuba, she relocated with her family to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. in 1984. Maria radiated her kindness and fun spirit in the classroom. A master Spanish teacher at John F. Kennedy Middle School, she is remembered fondly by students as someone who genuinely cared for them. She tried to make learning the Spanish language and culture fun by providing her students genuine life experiences which included cultural events in Miami and visits to local Hispanic restaurants around West Palm Beach, Fla.

Maria embraced life to the fullest which could be seen anytime you saw her on the dance floor. She enjoyed time with friends at the beach, travel and learning new things such as meditation and languages. Her sweet and caring demeanor made her loved and admired by her many friends in Chicago and South Florida.

In addition to her husband Tony, she is survived by her two sons, Paul Simon Byk of Atlanta, Dennis Anthony Byk and wife Kristin Murray Byk of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and two grandchildren Preston Anthony and Sydney Ellyn Byk.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Thursday, November 12 at 10:00am at St. Ignatius Loyola, 9999 N Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.