Nadine Philbin Lynch

Nadine (Philbin) Lynch passed away on December 14th, 2025, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 74. She is survived by her younger sister, six children, fifteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren with more on the way. She was born in Chicago on February 15th, 1951, and was the eldest daughter of Jane and Joseph Philbin.

Nadine was a beloved sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and cousin. She had a heart full of love, a spirit that loved life, and a desire to make life worth living.

She produced a big family, enjoyed a rewarding career and had a lifelong love of learning and experiencing new things. She was guided by her deep and abiding faith, and it brought her joy to love and serve others unconditionally. She was a bright, kind, generous, forgiving, curious and fun soul who is impossible to replace or forget.

She enjoyed discovering the world around her and the people who made that world go 'round. She thrived on being connected with other like-minded souls and immersing herself in those shared experiences. Her love of family, travel, culture and discovery gave her a broad and empathetic worldview that had remarkable depth.

After graduating from Mother McCauley High School in Chicago, Nadine connected with Up With People, an international youth organization that promoted goodwill through service and the arts. She spent time traveling in Europe before studying nursing in Tucson, St. Louis and Chicago where she received her degree from Richard Daley College.

That explorer bug accompanied her throughout life, and she went to great lengths to imprint that on the hearts of her children and grandchildren. Those of us who were fortunate to go on road trips or mini vacations with mom knew that we were on adventures. They were always fun and full of unexpected surprises and challenges, but they also introduced us to a world rich in beauty, diversity, history and culture.

Yet, she was remarkably grounded.

Her joy in life came from the large family she raised and watching her children build lives and families of their own. She struggled with balancing her professional and family life because she wanted to be around for her children, but she also needed to provide for them. It was a catch-22 that she worked hard to overcome, particularly during Christmastime or summer vacations. Boy did she love Christmas.

Not being physically close to her family in recent years was her sorrow. She was annoyingly persistent when it came to keeping her children and their families connected despite the distance between them. She relocated to Arizona to help her sister care for their aging mother, yet she remained after her passing. She loved Tucson, being close to her sister and working full-time at a rehabilitation facility nearby.

She was living her best life. Yet, that was tempered by her longing to be closer to her offspring. That was emblematic of the rich, full life she lived that was not always easy. Yet, she had an amazing knack for navigating the ups-and-downs in life with hope and optimism, and it was contagious. She was also exceptionally kind and generous, especially during life's struggles. She freely gave herself to those she loved, and those she loved were deeply influenced by her example.

Her children grew into exceptional mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles who became advocates, teachers, healers, artists and explorers. So much of her unique and authentic self is written on their hearts, and in the hearts of their children and grandchildren too.

Nothing brought her more joy than to watch her children become miracles and pay it forward. Nothing brings her children more joy than to live out her legacy that is written on their hearts.

Her surviving family includes her sister Kathleen (William), her children John, Laura (Steven), Michael (Christie), Kathleen (Joshua), Patrick and Meghan (Michael), her grandchildren Elizabeth, Cole, Hannah, Benjamin, Joseph, Tyler, Kyle, Sydney, Brooke, Hallie, Hunter, Connor, Landon, Michael, Abigail, and her great-grandchildren Liana, Gia Rose and Aubriella Grayce at present.

Memorial and burial services will be held in Chicagoland. Details forthcoming.