Thomas Lyons - 99

Chicago, IL

Thomas Lyons, aged 99, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Smith Village on October 23, 2024. He is now reunited with his cherished wife, Lillian Clare, and beloved daughter, Lillian Mary. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Tom was the son of George Washington Sr. and Florence (née Liston).

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Robert, Joseph (Katherine née Burke), George Washington Jr. (Helen née Chamberlain), Mary (George Toomey), John (Mary née Folliard), Florence, Francis (June née McKnight), and Raymond (Margaret née Burke). He is also preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Lillian Clare Lyons (née Devane). Tom was the proud and devoted father of Thomas (Mary Gail) Lyons, Mary Frances (James Roy) Lyons, Rosalind Lyons, Martin (Mariska Polii) Lyons, Regina (Theo Eicher) Lyons, Daniel (Monica) Lyons, Jarlath (Roxanne Hood) Lyons, Jerome (Soe Tun) Lyons, and the late Lillian (Robert) Davis. He was the grandfather of Joseph, Brenda, Daniel (Jennifer), Zachary (Suzanne), Sarah (Clinton), Clare (Benjamin), Robert, Emily, Reyna, Luis, Kenneth (Annie), Tatiana (Joshua), Alexander, Vivian (Tanner), Grant, Rocco (Liane), Suki, Thomas Tun, and the late Sheila. He also leaves behind 13 great-grandchildren: Addison, Olivia, Gabrielle, Timothy, Isaiah, Arthur, Micah, Lillian Constance, Benjamin, Kiera, Fintan, Luna, Arlo, Lilly, and Everly.   Tom met his beloved Lillian in a young people’s chorus group, and they were married in 1951. Together, they raised their nine children in Worth, Morgan Park, and later Flossmoor, IL. After Lillian’s death, Tom moved to Smith Village, where he made many new friends and continued to live a full and engaged life. 

Tom was a proud alumnus of De La Salle High School, where he excelled on the basketball team. His college years at DePaul, where he played under legendary coach Ray Meyer, and Notre Dame were interrupted by service in the Navy during World War II; he returned to complete his degree in mathematics.

He went on to become a pioneer in computer programming, playing a key role in bringing computerization to Prudential Insurance Company, where he enjoyed a long and successful career until his retirement. Throughout his life, Tom was deeply involved in his community. He sang with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus, volunteered as a 4-H counselor, and served his church and organizations like Respond Now. He believed in the power of personal effort to make the world a better place.  Above all, Tom was a dedicated family man and a loyal friend. His greatest joy came from his roles as a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, neighbor, and friend. His legacy of love, service, big-heartedness, sincerity, and kindness will be remembered by all who knew him.

 A funeral service to celebrate Tom’s life will be held at St. Cajetan’s Church on October 29th, with visitation at 10:00 am until Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Thomas’s name to De La Salle Institute (Class of 1943 Endowed Scholarship Fund), 3434 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616-3898 (www.dls.org/restricted-gifts) or Respond Now, P.O. Box 215, Chicago Heights, IL 60411 (www.respondnow.org/donate-online). Info panozzo@panozzobros.com or 708-481-9230.