Obituary
Caren Lee (Connor) Byrnes
July 13 1946 – March 22, 2023
Caren Byrnes of the Village of Saint James has passed into heaven at the age of 76 after a long struggle with digestive tract issues. Born in the Pittsburgh, PA borough of Swissvale, Caren attended and graduated from Swissvale High School in 1965. She met her soon to be husband at the University of Pittsburgh and the two were married in 1967. She gave her life to Christ at a Billy Graham crusade that year becoming a lifelong devout Christian. She believed strongly in and loved being a stay at home mom, ultimately completing her college degree in 1980 at Chatham College in Pittsburgh. Using her degree in communications, Caren worked briefly in the emerging cable TV field before creating cable programming on a volunteer basis for the Episcopal diocese of Pittsburgh. The family relocated to Massachusetts in 1986 where Caren joined the local chapter of the American Association of University Women. Being a strong Christian, pro-life advocate, she was instrumental in creating a sub chapter called the American Association of University Women for Life that is still going strong in pro-life advocacy.
Caren had a great knack for making sweet homes out of the houses her family lived in. She had a quick smile and an easy, fun personality. In 2001 she underwent Whipple surgery to deal with a precancerous diagnosis regarding her pancreas. This and several foot surgeries relegated her to quite a bit of suffering in her final 22 years of life on this earth. Her faith and trust in the goodness of God carried her through these trials. Her greatest love on earth was for her grandchildren. She enjoyed competing at duplicate bridge and was just a few points shy of life master. She took up golf with her husband becoming proficient enough to enjoy the game with friends in retirement at The Villages many golf courses. She was a member of Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Leesburg. She is survived by her husband Patrick, son Scott Byrnes and daughter-in-law Eneida of Dighton, Mass, daughter Amy Herlihy and son-in-law Brendan of Holden, Mass, four grandsons Xavier, Philip, Connor, and Bryan, and sister Carol Sternat of Vernon, Conn. A memorial service will be held on Saturday April 29th at Grace EPC in Leesburg, 700 South 9th Street.
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