Denise Byrne

Denise “Dee” Byrne, nee Schaefer, 64, of Belleville, IL, born March 21, 1959, in Belleville, IL, died Friday, September 8, 2023, at Edwardsville Care Center, Edwardsville, IL.

Dee was a vibrant and colorful person, enjoyed traveling, and riding motorcycles. She expressed her love towards family, friends, and staff at Edwardsville Care Center by using her crocheting & artistic skills to make scarves, afghans, and other crafts. Dee has been a constant friend of Bill W. for nearly 14 years. She was exuberant in sharing her love for and faith in Christ and offered comfort to many of the residents at Edwardsville Care Center. Dee will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cletus and Mary Ann, nee Sebol, Schaefer; her brother, Terry D. Schaefer; a sister, Tammy Jean Schaefer, in infancy; her high school sweetheart and first husband, Timothy Mank; a stepson, Nicholas Fisher; and a brother-in-law, James Yeates.

Surviving are a sister, Patricia “Patty” Yeates; a sister-in-law, Rita Ann “Sophie” Schaefer; her adopted son, Brandon Cabriera; five stepchildren, Christopher and Stephanie Fisher and Nathaniel, Bianca, and Bryan Byrne; 11 nieces and one nephew, and their spouses; ten great-nieces; 18 great-nephews; four great-great-nieces; three great-great-nephews; and many extended family, friends, and friends of Bill W.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Nurse Connie for being an advocate for Dee; the nurses, aides, and staff who showed her kindness at Edwardsville Care Center; Ombudsman Traci; and the nurses, social workers, and chaplains at ProMedica Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation:  Friends may visit from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, October 7, 2023, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, 200 W. Harrison St., Belleville, IL.

Funeral: A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 7, 2023, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, 200 W. Harrison St., Belleville, IL.

Burial will be held at Walnut Hill Cemetery, 1101 Mascoutah Ave., Belleville, IL.

Luncheon will follow the services in the cafeteria of Notre Dame Academy School, 200 S. 2^nd St., Belleville, IL.