Daryl A. Bayer

Daryl Ann Bayer

September 30, 1938 - January 19, 2023

Daryl Ann was born in Evergreen Park in Chicago, IL, on September 30, 1938. She was a bright, inquisitive child who was always looking to learn and explored many interests as she was growing up. She loved to read and enjoyed artistic pursuits such as sewing, crocheting and crafts, and absolutely adored being outdoors. One of her favorite places growing up was Wonder Lake where she would spend time hiking, rowing, and swimming every summer.

When she was a young girl, her family moved to Omaha where Daryl Ann quickly found a new favorite outdoor spot at Elmwood Park. She and her family would spend time ice skating on the creek, horseback riding and hiking. Omaha is also where she attended Duchesne Academy, a Catholic high school that helped her to really begin connecting with her faith, an area she further developed while attending Barat College in Illinois. It was also at Barat College where she decided on a career that would help her stay close to her childhood goals of travel and France as she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in French and set off on a path to teach the subject.

From there she spent a couple summers at Middlebury College in Vermont to refine her language skills, and then to the Sorbonne in Paris for her masters, fulfilling her childhood dream of living in France. She loved all things French and might have stayed in Paris forever if not for the alluring draw of Omaha, or her future husband… it was definitely one of the two.

Daryl Ann married Dick Bayer on April 20, 1963, with whom she went on to raise eight amazing children. She enjoyed being an integral part of her children’s lives as a Den Mother, Campfire Girl Leader, Softball Coach, and 4H Leader among many other things. It was also during many of these years that she taught French full time at Central High School where she worked for over twenty years, culminating in a promotion to head of the foreign language department. Daryl Ann really enjoyed the connection to France her job afforded her, and routinely was able to visit France when leading trips for her students – relying on her French language skills to help them to safely travel through the country.

One of the nice things about being a teacher is that it enables you to enjoy summers with your children, and Daryl Ann used that to significant effect. Each summer, she and Dick would travel the country meeting up with extended family, visiting faraway places, and often camping for weeks on end. It was during these times where she got to spend real 1:1 time with her children, singing, hiking, cooking, and telling stories around the campfire. It was also during those long summers where she would get to meet up with her siblings for frequent family reunions typically in Colorado or California.

As the number of grandchildren grew, eventually reaching 23 and even 2 great grandchildren, she decided to retire in 2000 so she could support her children’s efforts to raise their own kids. She babysat frequently, helped out with her grandchildren’s activities, and spent so much time supporting wherever and whenever she could. Retirement also afforded her the opportunity to frequently travel internationally with her husband Dick, their siblings, and the Sapphire girls (her special September birthday travel group). Retirement was an incredibly happy time for her, and the joy it brought her was infectious.

Perhaps that is what we will remember most about her – the way she put joy out into the world and the way that joy continues to resonate in her family and friends to this day. She was an amazing wife, sister, parent, grandparent, and friend, and she will be greatly missed.

Survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Dick Bayer; 8 children; 23 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, 1 sister; her extended family, many good friends and all of her former students.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Monday, 10:30am at St. Pius X Catholic Church with interment in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. 

The funeral can be viewed online at https://heartstreaming.link/daryl-a-bayer 

 VISITATION with the family one hour prior to the service at church. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church or Creighton Preparatory High School, or the Central High School Foundation.