Glynne T. (Thomas) Gervais

Glynne Thomas Gervais, 86, passed away on January 5, 2025, after a brief hospitalization.

Glynne was the eldest child born to Edith and Gerald Thomas.  She was the oldest and only surviving member of her immediate family. Glynne was a cradle Catholic and attended Catholic schools in New Orleans through high school.  Glynne attributed her learning French Creole and Latin to her mother and the Catholic Church.  She received her bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago and her masters degree from the Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Glynne met her husband, Paul T. Gervais, when they were juniors at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.  They were married on May 14, 1960 at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, Illinois. Together they raised three children, Lewis, Michelle and Adrienne.  

After their wedding, Glynne and Paul lived in an apartment in Oak Park until their rent was tripled.  This forced the mixed race couple to move out of Oak Park.  They returned to Oak Park ten years later, soon after the Fair Housing Ordinance passed.

Glynne devoted her life to helping others.  She began her career as a caseworker at Cook County Hospital. The majority of her professional career was spent working for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In September 2023, Glynne was awarded the Visionary Leader in Human Services award by the Black Administors in Child Welfare of Illinois. She was also an assistant professor at the Jane Addams College of Social Work, Loyola University and later Aurora University.  Glynne never stopped providing mentoring and clinical supervision to social work students.  She forged connections that spanned decades.

Glynne was a former president of the Village Manager Association as well as a chair of the Oak Park Community Development Block Grant Committee.  She played significant roles with Community Response, Oak Park Community Development, St. Edmunds Peace and Justice Committee, and Visiting Nursing Services.  

Glynne was a faithful volunteer for the Oak Park League of Women's Voters,a tutor for ESL students for the Dominican University Literacy Center and San Jose Obrero Mission for the Homeless, to name a few.

Glynne was an avid reader and gardener. She loved to cook the native New Orleans dishes; Red Beans and Rice and Jambalaya. 

Glynne regularly attended Mass at St. Edmund's Church.

Glynne is survived by her husband of 64 years, Paul; their children Lewis and Adrienne; their three grandchildren, Natalia, Gabrielle and Keegan and her son-in-law John Smoot. Glynne was the aunt of many nieces and nephews and leaves behind a wealth of in-laws and cousins. She was predeceased by her daughter, Michelle; her parents, Edith and Gerald; and her siblings, Joseph, Judy, Gloria, Geraldine, Elizabeth and Gerald.

Services are pending.

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