Brenda Lee Conroy

Brenda Lee Conroy, age 76, of Peoria, passed away on April 7, 2023 at her residence. She was born on June 3, 1946 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Harold and Yvonne (Kennedy) Mortensen. She married Jerry Conroy on September 26, 1975. He survives.

She is also survived by her son, David (Lori) Conroy; two grandchildren, Matthew and Megan Conroy; sister-in-law, Carol (Steve) Garceau; and one nephew, Eric (Jessie) Garceau and sister-in-law Sally Mortensen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Don Mortensen; brother-in-law, Bruce Conroy; and niece, Erin Timian.

Brenda loved the Lord, Jerry, David & Lori, her grandkids, the literally hundreds of piano students she started, mentored and encouraged for 40 years, music, our Golden Retrievers (6) and golf!

She was an adjunct piano teacher at Illinois Central College (ICC), East Peoria, Illinois for 26 years. She taught Class Piano for music majors and Applied Piano for music students. She also taught Music Theory, Music Appreciation and Class Piano for non-music majors. She achieved a Bachelor degree in Piano from Northern Illinois University, a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Illinois State University and Permanent Professional Certified Teacher of Music in Piano status from Music Teachers National Association. She was a member since 1976.

She performed in Illinois Central College faculty recitals and accompanied other faculty and students. She performed a two-piano concert with a colleague at ICC. She was the staff accompanist at Peoria Woodruff High School for many years and accompanied many of their Gilbert & Sullivan productions.

She was a long time member of Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA), where she was the President from 2003 to 2005. Prior to becoming President, she was the Competition Chair for almost 30 years.

She was very active in the community and maintained a private piano studio in her home since 1978 (45 years!). Many of her students were winners of ISMTA competitions, Bradley Piano competitions and other Illinois state competitions.

She was the Director of Education for the Peoria Symphony Guild for 5 years and was on the Board of Youth Music Illinois (YMI), a part of the Peoria Symphony.

She was a pianist and accompanist for 35 years at Mt Olive Missionary Church, then Northwest United Methodist Church and then Northminster Presbyterian Church in Peoria. Most recently she was the part time pianist at the First United Methodist Church in Chillicothe. "They like me because I play the hymns"

She is also a National Guild of Piano Teachers judge and frequently gave presentations on how to prepare students for competitions.

Many people do not know that Brenda was an Air Traffic Controller for 12 years at Chicago Center in Aurora, IL. Can you say versatile? She was one of the first females to achieve that position.

She is very active throughout the Peoria community performing with local professional organizations and accompanying students for various competitions. She was the piano accompanist for Morton Civic Chorus "Encore", the fund-raising group for the Central Illinois Memorial Kidney Fund (CIMKF) for many years.

A Memorial Service for Brenda will occur at 3 PM on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Mount Olive Missionary Church, 5718 North University Street in Peoria. Visitation will occur from 1-3 PM at the church. Pastor Mark Douras will officiate.

Memorials may be made to Mount Olive Missionary Church, First United Methodist Church, 1023 N 6th St, Chillicothe, IL 61523, ICC Educational Foundation, 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635 or Central Illinois Memorial Kidney Fund, PO Box 235, Morton, IL 61550.