Otilda ‘Tillie’ Byrne, age 99, of Fairview Heights, Ill. born January 26, 1926 in Fort Branch, Ind., to Gilbert Maier, and Frances, nee Neufelder, Maier, died Saturday, February 15, 2025 at her home.
Tillie grew up in Haubstadt, Ind. where she assisted with taking care of the family farm; she was the eldest of 5 children. Her father died when she was 15. She was dedicated to her studies and completed business college in 1945. She was always in the forefront of breaking down barriers and jobs for women in the 1940s, 50s, & 60s. Tillie traveled with her children for their roller-skating competitions and Khoury league games. She loved the Muny and was an avid sports fan. She enjoyed attending all her grandchildren’s activities.
She loved to travel and, once retired, visited St. Clare’s sister parish in Guatemala, the Vatican in Rome, Italy to see Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict, and at 85 made it to the Holy Land to be baptized in the River Jordan. She was devoted to her prayer life and used her iPhone so that she could participate in Mass anytime day or night from Australia, South Africa, Canada, Ireland and multiple church sites in the U.S. She embraced technology and all it had to offer- even her daily rosaries online. Tillie enjoyed fast cars and could also be seen driving her Rally Sport Camaro until the age of 91.
She started her career working at Mead Johnson in Evansville, Ind. until the family moved to Illinois where she worked at the Metro East Journal as an advertising sales agent for 25 years. She was the secretary of the Newspaper Guild Union. Tillie then worked with the Ainad Shriners, supporting the circus and membership groups until her retirement. Once retired from outside work, she took up the amazing job of caring for her grandchildren. She was an extremely devout grandmother and poured out unconditional love. She went on many field trips, including City Museum in her 80s, climbing in all the tunnels after her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers and sister August ‘Auggie’ Maier, Emil Maier, and Theresa Maier Kohlhaas.
Surviving are her brother Marvin ‘John’ Maier of Haubstadt, Ind. and her cherished four children John (Nancy) Byrne of Fairview Heights, Ill., Patricia (Dave) Schaefer of Belleville, Ill., Michelle (Martin) Voruz of Fairview Heights, Ill. and Brigid (Kenneth) Sternberg of O’Fallon, Ill.; adored five grandchildren Kelly (Mike Smith) Herrington, Fran (Mark Berowski) Byrne, Katelyn (Cody) Bernardoni, Stephanie (Matt) Benway, Kyle Sternberg, two great-grandchildren Jacob (Katey Bedard) Gebhart and Hailey Connor, one great-great-grandchild Bodhi Gebhart, and loving nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested in the form of Masses or to the Guatemala Scholarship Fund at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church or to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Visitation: The family will receive friends from 3-7 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2025 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O’Fallon, Ill. Join the family at 6:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Visitation will resume at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the church.
Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025 at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1411 Cross St., Shiloh, Ill., with Rev. James Deiters presiding. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Fairview Heights, Ill.
