Thomas Breen Obituary

Breen, Thomas

In the fair city of Chicago, on the twenty-sixth of May, in the year two thousand and twenty-four, did Thomas Albert Breen, known to all as Tom, depart this mortal coil. Born under the summer's sun in Mt Prospect, Illinois, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-three, Tom traversed the path of life with a merry gait, leaving an indelible mark upon the hearts of those he encountered.

A man of mirth and merriment, Tom was a beacon of optimism. His laughter was a balm to the soul, and his loving nature a comfort to all who were graced by his presence. In his earthly sojourn, he was bound to his beloved Linda Madera, with whom he shared the tapestry of life's joys and sorrows. Jason Whitley, the eldest, whose strength and character mirror that of his sire, and Taylor Breen, the youngest, in whose eyes the same spark of humor shines.

Tom's life was a testament to the bonds of kinship, with his sister Patricia Breen and her husband Jerry Brown, his brothers Dennis and Michael, and the memory of Timothy, his brother who ventured before him into the undiscovered country. With these kindred spirits, he shared the triumphs and trials of life, each enriching the other's existence.

He was a man of study and contemplation, having walked the hallowed halls of SIU Carbondale, where he nurtured the seeds of knowledge that would flourish throughout his life. With the tools of his education, Tom crafted a realm of his own design, establishing a trim carpentry business that stood as a monument to his skill and dedication for over forty winters. His hands, both strong and sure, shaped the world around him, leaving a legacy of craftsmanship that will endure.

Tom's earthly pleasures were of a simple kind, spoiling his grandchildren Justin and Jordyn, finding solace in the pastimes of his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears. In their triumphs and tribulations, he saw reflected the eternal dance of life, the interplay of victory and defeat that defines the human condition. Yet, beyond the roar of the crowd and the thrill of the game, Tom's truest joy was found in the act of helping others, his generosity of spirit a guiding star to those adrift in life's tempests.

Let it be known that Tom lived as he died, with the courage of a lion and the gentleness of a lamb. Though the cruel specter of cancer sought to dim the brilliance of his spirit, it could not quell the light of his humor nor the warmth of his love. Even as he crossed the bar, his optimism remained unclouded, a beacon to guide us through the sorrow of his parting.

We who remain are left to wander this stage without his presence, yet the echoes of his laughter will resound through the ages. For in our memories and in our hearts, Tom's spirit endures, a reminder of the beauty of life and the strength of love. His story, writ not in ink but in the lives, he touched, shall be recounted with fondness and admiration until the stars themselves doth fade.

Farewell, sweet prince of mirth and kindness. Your journey here hath ended, but your tale shall be told as long as love and laughter dwell within the human breast. Rest now in peace, dear Tom, until we all shall meet again in that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns.

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