In Loving Memory of

John Francis Lowery

With the most profound sadness, we announce the death of our beloved father and grandfather, John Francis Lowery, who went to God in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 18, 2022. After a brave two-year battle with cancer recurrence, Dad took his final punch and breath at the age of 85 in his family home in Evergreen Park, IL. He was the strongest, most loving man we have ever known, and we got to call him father and grandfather.

To those who knew and loved him, he was a one-of-a-kind person, one who cannot ever be duplicated. John Lowery was a genuine, selfless individual who would always put the health and happiness of others above himself. In fact, he dedicated his life to others. No act of service was ever too big or too small if it meant that he could make things better for someone’s life. He loved making people laugh, performing random acts of kindness, and making others smile. He loved contributing to other people’s happiness or knowing he played a part in helping someone in need. That’s just who he was, and he fought hard in life to ensure that those he loved were safe under his wing.

His philosophy of life dates back to his early years when he unprecedentedly joined the US Army at the age of 15 and became a boxer, a great fighter while serving his country during the Korean War. He also never forgot his family, sending a portion of his army earnings home to his beloved mother every month he served.

Upon his return, Dad committed himself to serving others in any capacity he could. Because of the GI Bill, he was able to go to college and become a Math and English teacher in Chicago Public Schools, serving his high school student population for nearly forty years, 35 of which he served at Morgan Park High School. During his younger years as a teacher, he met and fell in love with our mother, Bernice E. Lowery, also a retired CPS teacher. They would go on to have seven children together, raise six, and further down the line, he and my mother would raise their first grandchild together. As a young father and educator, he taught himself how to do roofing and siding, so he could start up his own professional company to have the funds his children and grandchildren needed to experience a wonderful education and enjoy the fruits of a rich childhood. When he wasn’t teaching, he was roofing, and when he wasn’t roofing, he was caring for his wife and family. Whatever free moments he ever had after that always went into serving others, personally and professionally.

For the past 9 years, he fought his hardest battles. He fought different cancers, the illnesses that come from various rounds of treatments, a massive heart attack, triple bypass surgery, several physical injuries, and more, so that he could stay alive to care for his beloved wife Bernice, our mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s more than a decade ago. They would have been married 59 years this coming August.

He is survived by his wife Bernice Lowery, his daughter Eve Grevan, his daughter Anne (Jimmie) Johnson, his son Sean (Mini) Lowery, his daughter Jennifer (Jason) Reynolds, his son James (Sara) Lowery, his son Denis (Nena) Lowery, and his grandchildren, Joy Lowery, Cody Johnson, Jennifer Carmona, Amanda Johnson, Allison Kadampelil, Anu Kadampelil, Grace Lowery, Elise Lowery, and Sophia Lowery.

Even in death, his wishes were to give his body to scientific research to aid in the development of a cure and save the lives of others. Our father did not wish to have anyone mourn for him in a service. He wanted to go quietly, and for those who loved him, to remember him with their own fondness and memories and hold them close. If you would like to honor his memory, think of him when you perform a selfless act for someone you love or someone in need. Celebrate his life and legacy by putting others above yourself whenever you can.

“My death will best be dealt with as simply and unremarkably as possible: cremation without funeral, wake, ceremony, or urns. Avoiding any group vigils and expense, let my memory be best kept by those so inclined, by private thoughts and personal prayer, asking God to treat me mercifully, forgive my shortcomings, and allow me to rest in peace.”

- John F. Lowery

We love you, Dad. We love you, Gramps. May you continue to rest in peace and may God bless and keep you always. 

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