Joan O'Brien Obituary

Dear Jim,
We just recently heard of Joan's passing and are terrible sorry we didn't know sooner. Joan was a wonderful person and will be missed. Both of you were so dear to Mike's parents and I know they cherished you both. Our prayers are with you ane your family.
Mike and Anne Connor

Dear Mr. O'Brien, Jenny, Meredith, and families:

I am thinking of you and keeping all of you in my prayers at this time.

Jen and I went to school together forever. I always thought that Mrs. O'Brien was a beautiful woman; she was always smiling and always had something nice to say!

May God bless you at this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Karen Tegtmeyer

I was so sad to hear about the passing of Joan--she was an amazing lady & a true friend. I never lost touch with Joan after I left the park district in 1997--we sent letters every December & January and I always looked forward to potential opportunities to see her annually. I always enjoyed her spirit & loved her honesty. I tried so hard to make it to the wake/funeral but with no luck. I'm so sorry for your loss. She will be missed.

Judy and all,
I was sorry to hear of Joan's passing. All I can think about were the great times we had together before and after school at Lindblom HS. All of us, including Joan, Dee, Sue, Jo, the Kens, Frank, Greg and I had experiences together to remember with fondness. I will keep you all in my prayers.

Meredith, Jennifer, Jim and Kevin, My deepest sympathies on the loss of Joan. She was such a great champion for all most importantly the athletes of Special Olympics. I am so sorry I am not able to attend the services. She will be missed, but the hurt will be replaced by all the great memories and all the people she helped and supported!

One hundred years from now,
It won't matter what car you drove,
What kind of house you lived in,
How much you had in my bank account,
Nor what your clothes looked like,
But, the world may be a little better
Because you were important in the life of the special children and adults of Chicago!

To Abby and Maggie I am very sorry to hear about your grandmother. I give you all of my apologies and prayers. Get past the next two days strong, your grandma would have wanted that.

One hundred years from now
It won't matter what kind of car you drove, what kind of house you lived in,
how much money you had in the bank
nor what your clothes looked like
BUT
The world may be a little better
Because, you were so important
In the life of special children and adults.

We are so saddened by the news of Joan's passing. She certainly touched so many lives in such a giving and loving way. She will be missed, but always loved. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate her life, so well lived. As I go over the bridge everyday, I always smile and remember that Joan loved the water to be "zero to flat"!

To Jim, Jennifer, Meredith and the entire O'Brien and Walus Families - We were saddened to learn of Joan's passing. She was a dynamic person who had a wonderfully positive influenece on my life during the time that I had the opportunity to work with her. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Peter Zawicki and Family

O'Brien Family,
We are very sorry for your loss. Joan devoted a lot of time to Special Olympics and so many of its athletes. She certainly had a positive impact on the lives of many.

Jim, Jen, Meredith, and Family,
I am so sorry to hear about Joan's passing. She was a perfect example of someone who saw the ability to do something, in everyone. She taught me that and, frankly, is the reason I am in education today. Although, it had been years since I had seen her, I remeber her laugh and smile like it was yesterday.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all today and in the weeks and months ahead.
Sean Ryan-Chicago, Illinois

Dear Jim, Merridith, Jenny and the entire O'Brien & walus family's.

I was sorry to hear of Joan's passing. My heartfelt condolences are with each and every one of you during this time.

My memory shifts back to 1968 when we were all at soldiers field for the first Special Olympics under Ann McGlone Burke. How happy we were as young instructors. Joan, West Pullman.......Marilyn, Mt. Greenwood and myself at Independence pk. We worked a long time together over the years, having many differences but one thing in common. We loved our Special Olypians, and worked our best to keep their dream alive !
Joan has proven that................
A mass will be said for Joan and her family in thanks.
My love and prayers,
God Bless...........................and keep those chins up for that is where
she will be.. How she loved her family ! She was SPECIAL!

Patricia Zeledon Blundell ( Ms. Pat )
Calgary Alberta Canada

Our condolences to Jim and the girls, we knew Joan for a lot of years thru her sister Judy Reed, Our love and prayers go out to the O'Brien's and Walus family.

To the family of Joan O'Brien,
So sorry to hear of Joan's passing. I knew Joan for nearly 30th years through our invovlvement in Special Olympics. I learned many things from her including never giving up my passion to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities. She will be missed.

To Jim, Jenny, Meredith and the entire O'Brien and Walus families, please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Joan was such a remarkable woman in so many ways, it's hard to know where to begin. For me, she was a mentor and friend, who first taught me how much we are all alike and not different. As we all know, she rarely took "no" for an answer, and that benefitted all the children and adults that we were priviliged to work with. Her kindness, values, committment and humility were passed down to all of us, and I am proud that she was such an inspiration to me, as she was the reason I continued my life-long passion in Special Ed. Joan made us all feel like family and the bonds that were made will never be broken. My love and prayers go out to each and every one of you.

O'Brien Family: My condelences are with you during this time. I knew Joan to be a strong-willed, hard-working, loving and caring woman. She said what she meant, and meant what she said. I will keep your family uplifted in prayer. God Bless.

May God comfort you during this time. As many will attest, under Joan's tutalage at Marquette Park in the 70's we've come to love and respect those with disabilities. She has forever impacted many famililies. I remember her with intense gratitude and know she will be greatly missed.

O'Brien Family,
Words cannot express the sorrow of Joan's passing. A great woman who loved her husband and family. A tireless worker for the Special Olympics. She loved her job and the the Special children she touched. God Bless her.

David Condon

Jim and Family:
I was sorry to here of Joans' passing. My sypathies are with you and your family. Joan will be remembered by many whose lives she touched. I will remember her and your family in my prayers.