Jean Paychl Obituary

Jean Ann Paychl
Born: July 2, 1940
Died: October 3, 2025
Jean Ann Paychl died on October 3, 2025 in her long-time home on the north side of Chicago, with her close family and friends with her. Jean was 85.
Jean loved Chicago and all of its treasures: Lake Michigan, theaters, concert halls, museums, the Art Institute, art galleries, restaurants, lively streets, and ethnic neighborhoods. She frequented and enjoyed all of them. No one knew Chicago like Jean.
Jean was born on July 2, 1940, the year of the dragon, the first of twin girls who were part of the tiny "silent" or "pocket" generation. Her twin Joan died in 2022. Jean, Joan, and younger brother Jim were born and raised in Berwyn, a working class ethnic suburb west of Chicago.
Their father, James (Jim) Paychl, was a first generation Czech, their mother, Ludmila (Ludy) Fon, a first generation Slovenian. Jean was proud of her Czech and Slovenian heritage. She nurtured a close relationship with her Slovenian relatives through the years, traveling to spend time with them in their homes in Indiana.
Jean was like a second mother and grandmother to her sister's and brother's children and grandchildren. Family was everything to Jean.
From the beginning, Jean's special gifts were her kindness, generosity, and ability to never judge anyone she knew, anyone she met. She wove a network of friendships which have lasted all her life and through her years.
Jean began making, and keeping lifelong friends, when she was 3. She continued gathering and holding friends close through Pershing Grade School, Morton (East) High School, the University of Illinois, years of teaching at Washington Elementary School, and continuing as a substitute teacher after retirement.
Jean's curiosity and intelligence took her traveling to far off places in years when others mostly traveled domestically or to a few European capitals. Jean traveled domestically and went to Europe too, but she also traveled to China, Japan, South America, and Mexico in years when few others did.
Jean eventually became a "snowbird" to escape Chicago's brutal winters and to spend time with her sister and her sister's kids and grandkids in Arizona, and with her brother and his kids and grandkids in Nevada. In so doing she built a network of friendships beyond the Midwest in Phoenix and Las Vegas.
All of us who knew Jean will miss her enthusiasm and joy for life: her sister Joan's children, Jean's nieces Joslyn McNaughton and Collette Dunwoody, nephew Richard Dunwoody, and their spouses and children; her brother Jim's children, Jean's niece Jill Melone and nephew Jim Paychl and their spouses and children; her Slovenian family in Indiana; and her friends too numerous to count in the Midwest, Arizona, and Nevada.
A Celebration of Life was held for Jean at Ivins/Moravecek Home, 80 E. Burlington Street, Riverside, Illinois 60546.
In lieu of flowers, you may wish to give a donation for Geneva McNaughton, Jean's grand- niece, to Cal-ABLE by phoning 1-833-225-2253, or by using this link:
https://connect.vestwell.com/.../YkE_b1qPLkSN3UFtn3vsiw.
Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home
80 East Burlington Street
Riverside, Illinois 60546
708-447-2261