Raymond Peter "Pete" Lyons, 68, of DeKalb, Illinois, died Sunday, February 15, 2015, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center, DeKalb.
Born June 13, 1946, at St. Mary Hospital, DeKalb, the son of Raymond F. and Gertrude H. (Kerwin) Lyons, Pete lived with his family in Maple Park, until 1948, when the family moved to the family farm in Afton Township, south of DeKalb. Pete continued to live at the family farm until January 2011, when he moved to an Opportunity House group home. Later in 2011, due to failing health, he moved to Lincolnshire Place in Sycamore; in October 2014, he became a resident of DCRNC.
Due to being born with Down's syndrome, there were no formal education opportunities for Pete and others with disabilities. In the mid 1950s, his parents, along with other parents of children with disabilities started a school for children to attend. The main objective was to teach interactive and socialization skills. The work of the group of parents continued with community support and in 1962, Opportunity House Inc. in Sycamore was opened. Pete was one of the first seven clients to attend and work at Opportunity House, where he continued to work until 2011.
Pete participated in many activities while attending Opportunity House. His favorite was bowling. He participated in Special Olympics in both bowling and bocce ball. He also enjoyed doing community volunteering while at Opportunity House. In 2001, 2003 and 2006, he received recognition awards for 200, 300 and 400 hours, respectively, for Community Service.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen Traglia of DeKalb and Mary Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota. He also is survived by four nephews, two nieces and 11 great-nieces and -nephews, John (Lisa) Speybroeck and children, Jacob, Joe, Emily, Elizabeth, Ben, Catherine, Grace and Nick, and Mary Sue Speybroeck, all of South Bend, Indiana; Joseph (Jennifer) Traglia and sons, George, Louis and Giulio, of Batavia; Thomas (Renee) Comeford of DeKalb; Brian Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota; and Anne Traglia of DeKalb. He is further survived by several cousins, including Bob Sauter of DeKalb.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Rita Speybroeck; and two brothers-in-law, Dr. Robert Speybroeck and Julio Traglia.
The family thanks the staff and doctors at OH Residence, Lincolnshire Place, DCRNC and DeKalb County Hospice for the kind, loving and compassionate care that Pete received.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine Street, DeKalb, with Fr. Dean Russell celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Raymond Peter "Pete" Lyons Memorial Fund for Opportunity House, sent to the Lyons Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily-Chronicle on Feb. 18, 2015
Born June 13, 1946, at St. Mary Hospital, DeKalb, the son of Raymond F. and Gertrude H. (Kerwin) Lyons, Pete lived with his family in Maple Park, until 1948, when the family moved to the family farm in Afton Township, south of DeKalb. Pete continued to live at the family farm until January 2011, when he moved to an Opportunity House group home. Later in 2011, due to failing health, he moved to Lincolnshire Place in Sycamore; in October 2014, he became a resident of DCRNC.
Due to being born with Down's syndrome, there were no formal education opportunities for Pete and others with disabilities. In the mid 1950s, his parents, along with other parents of children with disabilities started a school for children to attend. The main objective was to teach interactive and socialization skills. The work of the group of parents continued with community support and in 1962, Opportunity House Inc. in Sycamore was opened. Pete was one of the first seven clients to attend and work at Opportunity House, where he continued to work until 2011.
Pete participated in many activities while attending Opportunity House. His favorite was bowling. He participated in Special Olympics in both bowling and bocce ball. He also enjoyed doing community volunteering while at Opportunity House. In 2001, 2003 and 2006, he received recognition awards for 200, 300 and 400 hours, respectively, for Community Service.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen Traglia of DeKalb and Mary Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota. He also is survived by four nephews, two nieces and 11 great-nieces and -nephews, John (Lisa) Speybroeck and children, Jacob, Joe, Emily, Elizabeth, Ben, Catherine, Grace and Nick, and Mary Sue Speybroeck, all of South Bend, Indiana; Joseph (Jennifer) Traglia and sons, George, Louis and Giulio, of Batavia; Thomas (Renee) Comeford of DeKalb; Brian Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota; and Anne Traglia of DeKalb. He is further survived by several cousins, including Bob Sauter of DeKalb.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Rita Speybroeck; and two brothers-in-law, Dr. Robert Speybroeck and Julio Traglia.
The family thanks the staff and doctors at OH Residence, Lincolnshire Place, DCRNC and DeKalb County Hospice for the kind, loving and compassionate care that Pete received.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine Street, DeKalb, with Fr. Dean Russell celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Raymond Peter "Pete" Lyons Memorial Fund for Opportunity House, sent to the Lyons Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily-Chronicle on Feb. 18, 2015
Raymond Peter "Pete" Lyons, 68, of DeKalb, Illinois, died Sunday, February 15, 2015, at DeKalb County Rehab & Nursing Center, DeKalb.
Born June 13, 1946, at St. Mary Hospital, DeKalb, the son of Raymond F. and Gertrude H. (Kerwin) Lyons, Pete lived with his family in Maple Park, until 1948, when the family moved to the family farm in Afton Township, south of DeKalb. Pete continued to live at the family farm until January 2011, when he moved to an Opportunity House group home. Later in 2011, due to failing health, he moved to Lincolnshire Place in Sycamore; in October 2014, he became a resident of DCRNC.
Due to being born with Down's syndrome, there were no formal education opportunities for Pete and others with disabilities. In the mid 1950s, his parents, along with other parents of children with disabilities started a school for children to attend. The main objective was to teach interactive and socialization skills. The work of the group of parents continued with community support and in 1962, Opportunity House Inc. in Sycamore was opened. Pete was one of the first seven clients to attend and work at Opportunity House, where he continued to work until 2011.
Pete participated in many activities while attending Opportunity House. His favorite was bowling. He participated in Special Olympics in both bowling and bocce ball. He also enjoyed doing community volunteering while at Opportunity House. In 2001, 2003 and 2006, he received recognition awards for 200, 300 and 400 hours, respectively, for Community Service.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen Traglia of DeKalb and Mary Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota. He also is survived by four nephews, two nieces and 11 great-nieces and -nephews, John (Lisa) Speybroeck and children, Jacob, Joe, Emily, Elizabeth, Ben, Catherine, Grace and Nick, and Mary Sue Speybroeck, all of South Bend, Indiana; Joseph (Jennifer) Traglia and sons, George, Louis and Giulio, of Batavia; Thomas (Renee) Comeford of DeKalb; Brian Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota; and Anne Traglia of DeKalb. He is further survived by several cousins, including Bob Sauter of DeKalb.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Rita Speybroeck; and two brothers-in-law, Dr. Robert Speybroeck and Julio Traglia.
The family thanks the staff and doctors at OH Residence, Lincolnshire Place, DCRNC and DeKalb County Hospice for the kind, loving and compassionate care that Pete received.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine Street, DeKalb, with Fr. Dean Russell celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Raymond Peter "Pete" Lyons Memorial Fund for Opportunity House, sent to the Lyons Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily-Chronicle on Feb. 18, 2015
Born June 13, 1946, at St. Mary Hospital, DeKalb, the son of Raymond F. and Gertrude H. (Kerwin) Lyons, Pete lived with his family in Maple Park, until 1948, when the family moved to the family farm in Afton Township, south of DeKalb. Pete continued to live at the family farm until January 2011, when he moved to an Opportunity House group home. Later in 2011, due to failing health, he moved to Lincolnshire Place in Sycamore; in October 2014, he became a resident of DCRNC.
Due to being born with Down's syndrome, there were no formal education opportunities for Pete and others with disabilities. In the mid 1950s, his parents, along with other parents of children with disabilities started a school for children to attend. The main objective was to teach interactive and socialization skills. The work of the group of parents continued with community support and in 1962, Opportunity House Inc. in Sycamore was opened. Pete was one of the first seven clients to attend and work at Opportunity House, where he continued to work until 2011.
Pete participated in many activities while attending Opportunity House. His favorite was bowling. He participated in Special Olympics in both bowling and bocce ball. He also enjoyed doing community volunteering while at Opportunity House. In 2001, 2003 and 2006, he received recognition awards for 200, 300 and 400 hours, respectively, for Community Service.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen Traglia of DeKalb and Mary Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota. He also is survived by four nephews, two nieces and 11 great-nieces and -nephews, John (Lisa) Speybroeck and children, Jacob, Joe, Emily, Elizabeth, Ben, Catherine, Grace and Nick, and Mary Sue Speybroeck, all of South Bend, Indiana; Joseph (Jennifer) Traglia and sons, George, Louis and Giulio, of Batavia; Thomas (Renee) Comeford of DeKalb; Brian Comeford of Blaine, Minnesota; and Anne Traglia of DeKalb. He is further survived by several cousins, including Bob Sauter of DeKalb.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Rita Speybroeck; and two brothers-in-law, Dr. Robert Speybroeck and Julio Traglia.
The family thanks the staff and doctors at OH Residence, Lincolnshire Place, DCRNC and DeKalb County Hospice for the kind, loving and compassionate care that Pete received.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 20, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine Street, DeKalb, with Fr. Dean Russell celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, DeKalb. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Raymond Peter "Pete" Lyons Memorial Fund for Opportunity House, sent to the Lyons Family in care of Anderson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.
For information call 815-756-1022.
Published in Daily-Chronicle on Feb. 18, 2015
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