Lucille B Finucane

Lucille Florence Bowers Finucane, age 100, of Palos Park, IL passed away peacefully on September 29, 2019 at ManorCare East in Palos Heights, IL, five days short of her 101st birthday. She was born October 4, 1918 to the late George Bowers and Catherine Harrington Bowers of Chicago, Il. She was married to the late Thomas Finucane, Jr. also of Chicago, in 1945. They raised three children, Mary Patricia Finucane King of Sparta, NJ - and Kathleen Finucane Braasch and Kevin Patrick Finucane – both of Palos Park, Il. She was grandmother to John, Jennifer, Ashley, Francesca and Gabriella, and great-grandmother to seven other children, Isaac, Tyler, John, Walter, Zachary, Kara and Kylie. She was pre-deceased by sisters Catherine Bowers, Bernice Fraatz and Margaret Schumacher, and brother George Bowers.

She graduated from Calumet High School in 1936 and also attended De Paul University in Chicago, IL, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Business. Before her marriage, she worked as an executive secretary at Electro-Motive Engineering Corporation, a designer of locomotives and subsidiary of General Motors, in La Grange, IL. Well into her 90s, she was still able to be able to type in excess of 94 words a minute, a skill that stood her in good stead when she chose to re-enter the workforce in her 70s, working as an administrator for the State of Illinois.

She served as a volunteer in southern California during World War II and married her husband Thomas there during his military service, continuing to reside there for a short time. They eventually returned to the Chicago area, moving to Palos Park, IL where they spent 49 years together raising a family, separating in 1996. As a member of St. Michael’s parish in Orland Park, she was active in parish activities and served as an officer of the Altar and Rosary Society. She continued to work part time in the school office, and was extremely proud of being a founding member and leader of the Junior Great Books program, presenting great literature to grades 5-8. With Thomas, they supported the construction of the new St. Michael’s church, including the building fund, purchase of a stained-glass window, and were members of the small group responsible for purchase of the organ.

She was very active in the Caritas charitable organization, whose mission was the support the John F. Kennedy School for the Disabled in Palos Park, and served on the board of the Palos Park Public Library. Reading was extremely important to her, and she had the ability to write a letter that would inform entertain and amuse across the miles, always bringing a smile to the face of the recipient. She also participated in local politics, serving as a democratic judge of election.

Decorating and handcrafts gave her great pleasure – among those she enjoyed was stained glass art. The instructor noted that she was the only woman he had ever taught who had no fear of the solder iron and other tools – her comfort with them came from a childhood spent near a metalworking shop. She and Thomas also had the opportunity to pursue international travel, which she enjoyed immensely. But more than anything, she was dedicated to allowing her three children to grow up in a life free from the cares and worries she and her siblings had as children.

Her inner and outer strength were demonstrated through her health record, she conquered bouts with cancer twice, and survived both heart attack and stroke. Following a fractured hip in her nineties, it was judged that she might not walk again – she proved them wrong.

As a resident of ManorCare Palos East, she was loved and appreciated for her sense of humor and propensity to clearly express her mind, even when verbal communication became more difficult – sometimes through gestures and the occasional clenched fist. The family is boundlessly grateful to the nurses, CNAs, aides, and staff at ManorCare who watched over and cared for her to the end, and gives heartfelt thanks for the dear family friends who brightened her life with their frequent visits over the last few years.

Her boundless generosity, strong will and capacity to forgive will be dearly missed – she was a force to be reckoned with.

No visitation will be held. Cremation will take place at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Family and friends are welcome to attend a funeral Mass to be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 10:00am at Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church, 10731 W 131st St, Orland Park, IL 60462. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Coletta's of Illinois Foundation, which provides services for developmentally disabled children and adults.