Loss of a Legend: Honoring the Life of Larry Mirous

Larry Mirous was born in Chicago on August 25, 1952. He grew up like most “city kids” at that time. Riding bikes in the alleys, getting into shenanigans with his friends, giving his mother a grey hair or two. He met the love of his life, Judie, at a bowling alley. They were married at 19 and started their family with the birth of their first daughter a few years later. They had 2 more daughters in their house on Kedvale and in 1981 they made the move out of the city. They chose Tinley Park, an up and coming suburb on the south side of Chicago. They were one of the first houses to be built in the Tanbark subdivision. Larry and Judie lived in that house for almost 20 years, until all of their daughters were grown and moved out on their own.

The next 10 years Larry and Judie had the joy of watching 8 grandchildren come into their lives. They moved a few times, to several different townhomes and houses in Tinley Park. Two of their daughters chose to settle in Tinley Park after getting married and the oldest eventually made her way back, too. All 8 of their grandchildren attended the same schools their daughters attended. They got to watch all of the sports and activities from the same seats they had watched their children decades earlier. Larry would always say Tinley Park was the best place to live and raise children. Obviously, we listened because we all ended up back here.

Maybe you knew Larry from being part of the Yankee Runners club out of Oak Forest. Or maybe from Lifetime Fitness in Orland Park. Maybe you saw him picking up or returning books at the Tinley Park Public Library; he loved reading and learning about so many different things. Even if you didn’t know him personally, if you ever ran into him ANYWHERE, he probably struck up a conversation. At the Jewel or the Aldis, maybe chatting with another customer or the cashier. At a restaurant, talking to the manager or a bus boy cleaning our table. He had a knack for making people feel special and heard and everyone gravitated to him. Larry was a genuinely kind human who always strived to make the world a better place and he definitely did that.

On November 10th, he went to the emergency room with what he thought was a bad migraine. He actually had a stroke. During his time at Silver Cross Hospital (they were amazing!) and after a multitude of tests, it was determined he had non-small cell carcinoma (lung cancer) and that it likely had spread. He also had a heart condition that was complicating treatment options. So once it was confirmed to be stage 4, Larry decided he wanted to go home on hospice. He came home to his wife and daughters on November 20th and died with them all by his side on November 23rd.

When he was in the hospital, and sensing the direction this was heading, we talked about what he would want when he was gone. And he was clear. No wake. No funeral. He wanted a Happy Hour. With all of his favorite music playing. He wanted people to have fun, and find joy in their memories of him. So, that is what we are doing. Anyone who knew Larry, please join us on January 8th at the Alley Grill & Tap House in Mokena (connected to Thunderbowl). My parents celebrated their 50th Anniversary there so it seems a fitting choice since they started their journey in a bowling alley and they will end one there. So we have an idea of how many plan to attend, please complete this google form. We are looking forward to honoring and celebrating the incredible life of Larry Mirous.