Marge Nykaza Obituary, Death – Margaret Mary Nykaza, 69, of Evergreen Park, Illinois died quietly at home on August 12, 2023. Her family loved her as she entered Heaven. Marge was born June 10, 1954 in Oak Lawn, Illinois parents Margaret and Thomas O’Connell. She was sister to Mary (Jim) Connolly, Tim (Patti), Thomas, and Joseph O’Connell. She married her high school lover Edward Nykaza at St. Linus Catholic Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois, on August 16, 1975, after graduating from Eastern Illinois University with a music education degree. Margaret was a loving mother who reared Edward (Kelly), Michael (Fran), and Keith (Christy) at Evergreen Park. Her grandchildren, Leah, Lukas, Maggie, Grace, and Michael, provided her great delight and will continue on her legacy of unconditional love, laughter, and music.
Professional singer, active choir conductor, and vivid storyteller Marge was always a positive force and inspiration. She contributed her talents and served a large Chicagoland and global community.
She sang at many weddings, funerals, and religious ceremonies and taught music to all ages in the Catholic Archdiocese. She taught music and theology at local schools, motivating young artists to find their voice. Marge performed in Africa, Europe, and New Zealand, with many stops in between. She sung and performed with local initiatives to grow in her desire to help others. Marge was a friend to everyone she met, and her work has impacted communities, states, and countries worldwide. Marge loved helping others via music. Marge earned a Pastoral Ministry degree from Loyola University, a Cross-Cultural Music Healing Practitioner accreditation, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Graduate Theological Foundation as an avid learner.
She started Harmony, Hope, & Healing, a non-profit organization that uses music to help vulnerable community members heal from trauma, in 2000. The HHH music programs she founded help homeless, addicted, and isolated women, men, and children heal. Marge departed as Harmony, Hope, & Healing Executive Director in 2020, but her legacy lives on through the programs that inspire and encourage many. Marge is survived by her husband, three sons and daughter-in-laws, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Mary and Tom, and many dear nieces, nephews, and relatives. Her father, mother, brothers Tim and Joe, and son Kevin predeceased her. Thursday, August 17, 2023, Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 700 W. Adams, Chicago, will host visitation from 9am-11am and Mass at 11am.
