Reese, Winikay Toomey

Winikay Toomey Reese, AKA “Wink” or “Winkie,” was born Feb. 19, 1944, at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, to Daniel P. Toomey and Winifred Rousa. They raised Wink in Skokie, where she attended St. Peter School with older sister, Connie, and younger brother, Dan. At St. Peter, she was christened,

received First Communion, was confirmed, and later wed. In 1962, she graduated from Marywood High School in Evanston and enrolled in St. Mary-of-the-Woods in Terre Haute, IN. During college, she met Tom Reese, a former classmate from St. Peter’s grammar school. While Tom served in Vietnam, Winkie graduated St. Maryof-the-Woods in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree. She double-majored in Biology and Liberal Arts with a minor in Chemistry. After college, Winkie worked as a lab tech at Evanston Hospital. When Tom Reese returned from the Vietnam War, he and Winkie wed on Apr. 12, 1969.

While Tom built a career at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Winkie gave birth to seven children! Her first, Tracy Elizabeth, died during childbirth in 1969. She later had Andrew Thomas, Matthew Thomas, Tracy Danielle, and Shannon Clare. When Shannon reached first grade, Wink wanted more. So she had Peter Thomas. And because she always felt siblings needed “litter mates,” she had Thomas Theodore two years later.

Wink and Tom raised their family in Skokie, where she fostered her children’s art, academics, and athletic talents, including speedskating, softball, volleyball and soccer. She believed in a Catholic education for her children, sending all except Peter to St. Peter’s grade school and then to a private Catholic high school, either Notre Dame, Loyola or Marillac. Tom and Wink had the good fortune to acquire a

second home on Washington Island, WI, and it became an important retreat for the family. When the

children reached adulthood, Wink and Tom began spending time with Wink’s sister, Connie, and her husband, Tony Weber, in Mesa, AZ.

In 1992, Wink and her family had their first exposure to an unknown heart condition that would reshape

the dynamics of the family. Peter, Wink’s sixth child, died in 1994 from the illness. Wink’s heart symptoms surfaced in 2001. A 21-year battle with heart failure followed. Along the way, Wink lost her youngest son, Thomas, in 2009 to the same illness. On Oct. 27, Wink ended her battle with heart failure. She was 78.

We remember Wink as a great friend, sister, mother, grandmother and wife. She was a faithful parishioner and generous service member of the Catholic

Church, donating endless hours to St. Peter’s in Skokie preparing for the Christmas Bazaar, Happening, and bake sales. With all her gifts, Wink demonstrated great humility, thoughtfulness and generosity in spirit. She was a fierce advocate for her friends and family, equipped with a razor-sharp wit, clever tongue, and a medical background. Despite her 5-ft., 110-lb. frame, she was a formidable match for any nurse, doctor or educator. Wink’s first name is the subject of some unique yarns! One of the best happened in the early ‘50s while shopping at a Michigan Avenue department store in Chicago. Wink lost track of her mother while shopping. A clerk turned to her and asked, “Are you lost, little girl?” Wink nodded. He followed up with, “What’s your name?” so he could announce it over the PA. “Wink Toomey,” she told him. So the man winked at her, and she winked back. He asked her again, and she replied, “Wink Toomey.” And the man winked, and she winked back. This went on for four or five times before she finally told him: “Mister, this is a fun game and all, but I need to find my mom. My name is Wink Toomey.”

Beloved wife of Thomas J. for 53 years; loving mother of Andrew T. (Colleen), Matthew T., Tracy Danielle (Andrew) Bafia, Shannon Clare (Den) Dhepyasuwan, and the late Tracy Elizabeth, Thomas T.P., and Peter T. Reese; cherished grandmother of Benjamin P., Nora Clare and Murial Marie Reese, Reilly Wynn and Molly Anastasia Bafia, and Emmit Thomas Choey and Reese Phailin Dhepyasuwan; dear sister of Constance Ann (the late Tony) Weber and Daniel

Peter (Maureen) Toomey; dear aunt, godmother, and friend to many.

Visitation, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, from 3 to 8 p.m., at 8057 Niles Center Rd., Skokie. Funeral, Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 10:15 a.m., from the funeral home, for Mass of Christian Burial, 10:30 a.m., at St. Peter Church of Ss. Peter & Lambert Catholic Parish, 8100 Niles Center Rd., Skokie. Interment, All Saints Catholic Cemetery, Des Plaines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL, 60674 (heart.org). Funeral info: 847.673.6111 or habenfuneral.com to sign guestbook and to leave a condolence message.