Jane McDonough

Jane McDonough, 59, of Chicago, passed away very unexpectedly, but peacefully, in her sleep on October 27th, 2021, at her home in the Gold Coast in Chicago. Born in Chicago to parents Dan and Norma Carey, Jane grew up in Barrington, Illinois, and graduated from Barrington High School in 1979 and Northern Illinois University in 1983. She became a paralegal and had the honor to serve as a proud member of the City of Chicago’s Corporate Counsels office right before she started her family. Jane married the love of her life, Tom McDonough, in 1989. She and Tom were best friends and inseparable throughout their 35-year life partnership. Jane raised three wonderful children in their Chicago home: Tommy, Katie, and Jack. Jane was passionate about her children’s education and was so proud of everything they have accomplished. She loved every day of her extensive volunteer work at their grade school, The Catherine Cook School, where she was active for well over 20 years. She supported all of her children at the Latin School of Chicago for their high school educations and was thrilled when each of her children were able to attend their dream school colleges. Jane loved life and will always remain the center of her family. She loved music, especially Jimmy Buffet (who she had the pleasure of meeting), Billy Joel, and Thomas Rhett. She loved her family’s extensive travel, especially the family’s extensive travel to Chatham on Cape Cod and to the beaches and boating of Boca Raton, Puerto Rico, Amelia Island, and Grand Cayman. She and Tom loved their international travel to England, Rome, and their amazing 30th-anniversary cruise throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Jane loved her dogs (Buddy, Max, and Otto) and her cats (TJ, Noble, and Bates). In Chicago, Jane loved family dinners at her favorite restaurants and attending sporting events including countless games at Wrigley field watching her beloved Cubs as well as rooting on her children’s college football teams at Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame. Jane’s friendships were many and deep, with a strong network of cherished friends, with several lasting for over 50 years. She and her family always returned to Barrington for the summer Holiday’s, especially the Fourth of July Parade and festivities, culminating with the wonderful fireworks show from the Barrington High School. She was a devoted daughter and talked with her mother, Norma Carey, virtually every day. Jane was passionate about flowers and celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her family welcomes all flowers as part of our Celebration of Jane’s life this coming week. A visitation will be held at the Ivy Room, 12 East Ohio, Chicago, IL 60611 on Wednesday, November 3 from 4 to 8 pm. Family and friends will meet on Thursday, November 4 for a 10 am funeral mass at Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 700 W. Adams St. Chicago 60611, where she and Tom were married. 

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