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BORN

1934

DIED

2018

FUNERAL HOME

Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home - Westchester

10501 W. Cermak

Westchester, Illinois

Michael Breslan Obituary

Breslan, Michael G. Was born on August 25, 1934 in the back seat of a taxi cab on Halsted and Jackson. Every year of his childhood, the cab driver would come to his cold-water flat with a birthday gift. Michael was born into the poorest Irish family in the poorest Irish neighborhood in Chicago. Michael lived with his mother, younger brother Billy and his little sister Adrienne in a one-bedroom apartment with a shared bathroom down the hall. As a kid he played baseball, football and boxed. Eventually he boxed in the Chicago Golden Gloves. He attended school and church at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. He often credited the Church for putting dinner on his table as a child. At 17, he went to enlist with the Marines but an Air Force Sergeant told him that the Air Force served steak for dinner, while the Marines get chipped beef. He also assured him he would be able to fly one of those big bombers. He signed up immediately. It was 1951, the heart of the Korean War. He never flew but tested so high they made him a radio interceptor, better known as a code cracker. The friends he made there lasted him a lifetime. After the war ended, he came home to Chicago. His mother had passed away while he was in the Philippines, so he took the money he received at discharge and traveled around the country trying to find his place. He found it back where he started in Chicago. He worked as a heavy equipment operator with Local 150 Operating Engineers. This was where he found his voice. He advanced within the union to business agent and lobbyist and retired in 1994 as President of the Chicago and Cook County Building Trades Council. His voice was always a voice for labor. He served on the Illinois Labor Relations Board, the Salvation Army Board, the IHDA Board, and the Illinois Unemployment Board, among others. He called mayors and governors friends and traveled to the Rose Garden to receive the Seven Points of Light award from President Bill Clinton. Through his entire life, even at the very end, when people asked him what he did for a living he would simply say "I operated heavy equipment for Local 150." He was so very proud of that affiliation. Michael passed away on November 14, 2018 surrounded by the love of his family. He is survived by his sister, Adrienne (Eugene) Trezzo; his wife, Mary; his four children, Lydia (Michael) Pastore, Michael (Laurie) Breslan, Victoria (Steven Golub) Breslan, Shannon (Matthew) Stryzinski, and 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by his granddaughter, Kelly Beverley.Services will be held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Rd,. Westchester on Monday, November 19, 2018 2:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. Funeral Tuesday 9:30 a.m. until the time of chapel service 10:30 a.m. Inurnment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials to Our Lady of Sorrow Basilica, 3121 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612 appreciated.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Sun-Times from Nov. 16 to Nov. 18, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Breslan

Sponsored by Chicago Sun-Times.

Not sure what to say?





bob c

November 9, 2019

You were a good man and a great dad You are missed

Bob Rennick

December 3, 2018

So sad when discovering that our beloved "Private Mike" had passed. He never missed a 29th Radio Squadron Mobile reunion. Everyone at our reunions enjoyed talking to and listening to Mike tell stories of his time with us in the Philippines. He was a good man and will be missed by old guys of the 29th until the last one has passed. RIP old friend.
Bob Rennick

Thomas Brett

November 22, 2018

R.I.P. to Mr. Breslan, a union brother and steadfast supporter of our way of life. I have many fond memories of the role you played during my formative years. You were always a friend of our family.

Irwin Leiter

November 19, 2018

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

Nancy Hill

November 19, 2018

Sending hugs and prayers to the whole family. Remember always how much he loved each and every one of you. Mike was always about family and would do anything for every one of them. There will be hard days ahead but you will get through them by remembering the good times and how much he loved you.

Mary Diane Breslan

November 19, 2018

Once in a lifetime you meet some one who changes your life forever.
-Anonymous

To my dearest husband Michael,

No words can express all I am feeling right now. It has been 45 years and I can not imagine my life without you. You will always be the love of my life. I will cherish what we had forever.

You were a one of a kind man and family was your most precious gift. It is with a heavy heart and much sadness we have reached till death do us part. Rest in peace my dear husband. Until we meet again, wait for me.

Your loving wife,
Mary Diane Breslan

You dont marry the person you can live with, you marry the person you can not live without.
-Anonymous

November 19, 2018

Kind thoughts are with the family in your time of grief. May fond memories bring you comfort during these difficult days. Psalms 9: 9, 10

November 19, 2018

May comfort from God word's at Psalms 31:7 strengthen the family through this difficult time of grief.

Please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss.

Monty Howard

November 18, 2018

Plain and simple, a great no-nonsense guy, straight shooter, steel backbone, and most of all, a GREAT friend. I'll miss your presence, but always cherish my times with you. You'll be missed, but will hopefully live on through my fond memories.

Patricia Price

November 18, 2018

Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your love one Michael.

Cathy Janus

November 18, 2018

God hold you close to his heart. My deepest sympathies to family and friends.

November 18, 2018

May the God of all comfort strengthen the family during this time of deep sorrow. Those who pass on, God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. My sincerest condolences. (Psalms 116:15)

From the Staff of Conboy's Westchester Funeral Home

November 18, 2018

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

Deep in Our Hearts Spray

a loved one

Sent Flowers

VG

November 17, 2018

My deepest condolences to your family for the loss of your loved one. May the cherished memories you have of Michael help sustain you during this time. May your family be comforted by looking forward to Jesus promise of seeing your loved one again recorded at John 6:40.

Z L

November 17, 2018

My sincere condolences to your family for the loss of your love one. May the God of comfort be with you during this sad occasion and may his loving words at John 6:40 console your heart.

Shannon Ganger

November 17, 2018

I had a wonderful Grandfather who never really grew old.
Around my grandfather I never questioned my worth, my talent, my beauty, or my purpose. He pushed me like he pushed everyone else in my family and we are all in his debt for that.
His heart was made of gold and his eyes were bright shinning stars.
My grandfather could be a quiet man but his silence could speak volumes, and when he wasn't quiet he could talk for hours telling the true stories of his life that could be straight off the silver screen. He loved history and very recently I had a several hour conversation with him about the constitution. He knew it all by heart. He taught me that freedom is a blessing and something to be understood and respected. He taught me that knowledge was something to always strive for.
The warmth of his gaze always said"I love you"
The gentleness of his hand said "you are precious to me"
His nod of approval for a job well done said "I respect you"
This loss has been a shock to the family and all who knew him. We tried to prepare ourselves for this,
but no one can truly be prepared to lose a father, a grandfather, or a best friend.
I will so truly miss my Grandfather. I am so glad I knew him him and I am more proud to say that I am a part of his family.
Thank you for everything you did for us.
Thank you for always being there.
Thank you for being my friend.
Thank you for being an amazing Great Grandfather to my children.
From the entire family - We love you
( I only rewrote this 6 times...so much to say ...)

Gina Lenz

November 16, 2018

So very sorry for the family loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you all

Gene & Adrienne Trezzo

November 16, 2018

To our awesome brother and fun buddie and Adrienne's big brother. Mickey, we had so much fun these last 6 years. Our trip from San Francisco in Billy's car was so much fun and all we did was laugh all the way home. We also had a lot of fun dinners. We are going to miss you terribly. We became best buddie's and our life's will never be the same without you. We really love you tons. Your fun buddie's Gene & your little sister Adrienne

Scott Fawell

November 16, 2018

So sorry to hear about Mike's passing. He was a good guy and a great friend. A stand up guy. When Mike was your friend, he was your friend no matter what. The world needs more guys like him. He will be missed by me and so many. To his family, my deepest condolences. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dr. Patrick. A. Spilotro

November 16, 2018

God Bless you my Irish brother. !!

John Vertucci

November 16, 2018

I'm truly sorry for your loss. May he live on in your hearts.

November 16, 2018

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your love one. Drawing close to God at this most difficult time will help sustain you.

November 16, 2018

sorry for your loss He was a good man from an old friend Lydia bob coco

Terry & Cindy Beverley

November 15, 2018

And here has passed a great man. Always the gentleman. Always available to lend a generous hand and an attentive ear. So very blessed to have shared time with you, our friend. Terry and Cindy Beverley

Showing 1 - 27 of 27 results

Memorial Events
for Michael Breslan

Nov

19

Visitation

2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home - Westchester

10501 W. Cermak, Westchester, IL 60154

Nov

20

Funeral

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home - Westchester

10501 W. Cermak, Westchester, IL 60154

Nov

20

Service

10:30 a.m.

Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home - Westchester

10501 W. Cermak, Westchester, IL 60154

Funeral services provided by:

Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home - Westchester

10501 W. Cermak, Westchester, IL 60154

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