- Deceased's name: Catherine "Kay" Brohan
- Age: 88
- Date: June 22, 2012
- Hometown: Homer Glen
- Survived by: Sons Paul, Mark and Donald Brohan; daughters Mary Kathleen Brohan-Nelsen and Elizabeth Brohan; grandchildren Megan Nelsen, Ryan and Matthew Schmidt.
Catherine Brohan, nee Tracy, age 88, of Homer Glen, Ill., passed away peacefully on Friday, June 22, surrounded by her loved ones.
Beloved wife of the late Donald Dean Brohan; also preceded in death by her parents Charles Tracy and Catherine Tracy (Fay), her sister Mary Elizabeth Tracy, and her brother Donald Joseph Tracy.
Cherished mother of Paul (Beth Porter) Brohan, Mark (Mary Colby) Brohan, Mary Kathleen (Jim Nelsen) Brohan-Nelsen, Elizabeth (Robert Schmidt) Brohan, and Donald T. Brohan; adored grandmother of Megan Nelsen, Ryan and Matthew Schmidt; fond aunt of several nieces & nephews.
A graduate of Joliet Central High School, class of 1942, Kay was an accomplished professional woman long before career-minded women working outside of the home became commonplace. Earning a bachelor’s degree in social work from St. Francis College (now the University of St. Francis) in 1946, she began her career as a social worker with Catholic Charities, first in Chicago, then in Jacksonville, Ill., at the Illinois School for the Deaf.
She later served as the administrator of Shoreham Terrace Nursing Home in St. Joseph, Mich., and, finally as a counselor helping displaced workers over age 55 with the Area Agency on Aging, also in St. Joseph, Mich.
In addition to her passion for her family and her professional work, Kay held a special place in her heart for animals, acting as a foster parent for a wide variety of rescue animals, some of which became beloved family pets. She was a voracious reader, who could often be seen engrossed in a suspense novel, devouring the latest murder mystery or immersed in a literary bestseller.
Kay lived life to the fullest and will be deeply missed.
Visitation is Monday June 25, 2012, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Markiewicz Funeral Home, P.C. 108 Illinois St. Lemont, IL 60439. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 26, 2012, beginning from the funeral home at 9:30 a.m., to St. Alphonsus Church, 605 State St., Lemont, for Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in SS. Cyril & Methodius Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or phone 800-227-2345 Info: 630-257-6363 or www.markiewiczfh.com.
