Gloria Mae Tyson

Gloria Mae Tyson, Age 76, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, Monday, May 5, 2025, at Aurora Mt. Pleasant Medical Center. Gloria was born in Racine, December 12, 1948, daughter of the late Gilbert and Rosemary (Nee: Olsen) Henken.

Gloria was a graduate of Wm. Horlick High School, “Class of 1967”. On May 12, 1973, she was united in marriage to Thomas Edward Tyson. Gloria was employed by Prudential Insurance for thirty years until her retirement in 1997. She was active in the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) for many years. Gloria was a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where she sang in the choir. She loved to sing and often was asked to at family weddings. Gloria always enjoyed a good party and was usually the last to leave. Another of her great passions in life was shopping around to find the best deal possible. Gloria also loved to travel, whether it was RV camping, escapes to her condo in Vegas or her home in Florida. Most of all, Gloria cherished the time she spent with her family. She was incredibly proud of her daughters and their many accomplishments. Her greatest joy in life was her grandchildren. Gloria adored every member of the large family she married into.

Gloria was loved dearly and will be sadly missed by her husband, Tom of 52 years; daughters, Erin Tyson Laehr and Rebecca Tyson; grandchildren, Tyson and Madelyn Laehr; brothers-in-law. sisters-in-law, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Ann Waisman and Dianne Henken, as well as her beloved son-in-law, Carl Laehr.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Gloria’s life will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie St. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Kinzie Avenue. Relatives and friends are welcome to meet with the family for Visitation on Tuesday, May 13, from 4:00 until 6:00 pm at the funeral home, and on Wednesday at 10:00 am until time of Mass at the church. Memorials to St. Joseph Catholic Church or to St. Vincent DePaul, Racine have been suggested by the family.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the entire staff at Aurora Mt. Pleasant Campus for their long-term loving and compassionate care. During her many months of illness, Gloria and her family came to think of them as friends.