Murrysville resident Lucille Byrne made impact on students as teacher, food service director

Lucy Byrne touched the lives of thousands of students during her career as a teacher and a school food service director.

“She loved working with children and with people of all ages,” said her daughter Christina Heil. “She met many people who became lifelong friends – kitchen workers, students, teachers, vendors and suppliers.”

Mrs. Byrne oversaw the food service program at the McGuffy School District in Washington County for 25 years, retiring in 1992.

“She was an excellent administrator and manager … and was very good with people of all ages,” Heil said.

Lucille “Lucy” Byrne of Murrysville, formerly of Houston, Pa., died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. She was 93.

Born in Burgettstown on June 14, 1926, she was a twin daughter of the late Oscar Jackson and Hazel E. Jackson. She graduated from Burgettstown High School in 1944 and from Carnegie Institute of Technology’s Margaret Morrison School of Home Economics.

After getting married, she took her first teaching job at Trinity High School in Washington, Pa. She left there to start a family but later returned to teaching at Chartiers-Houston High School in Houston, Pa.

“While she was there, they asked if she could help manage one of the elementary school cafeterias because of her home economics background,” Heil said. “She did that, and she loved it.”

Mrs. Byrne enjoyed it so much that she went back to school and obtained a certificate in school food service management at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She then became manager of the food service program for the McGuffy School District, where she stayed the rest of career.

In retirement, she pursued her love of travel with her friend Betty Little and with family members. She traveled to Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Austria and Mexico. She also enjoyed vacationing in Naples, Fla.

“One of her favorite things to do was getting her favorite cup of coffee and sitting on the lanai and watching the world go by. She loved January in Florida,” Heil said.

Mrs. Byrne also enjoyed boating and swimming at Youghiogheny River Lake and spending time at Castaway Yacht Club, where she served as secretary.

“Mom made sure we got a chance to spend summers there,” Heil said, noting that the family stayed on the houseboat, Lucy B II.

Mrs. Byrne stayed active in education by volunteering with the Senior Connections Program at Sloan Elementary School, Murrysville, where she helped students with reading and studying.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Heil; and four siblings, including her twin sister, Louise (Dominick) Astorina.

She is survived by her children, Christina Heil of Export, Debra Little and her husband, Ed, of Murrysville, and Richard Heil, also of Export; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, Murrysville. Private interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery, Florence.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 3202 North Hills Road, Murrysville, PA 15668, or to the Westmoreland County Food Bank, 100 Devonshire Drive, Delmont, PA 15626.

Hart Funeral Home, Murrysville, is in charge of arrangements.