Karen Marie McCarthy Quinn

Karen Marie Quinn was one of those rare people whose enthusiasm for life was contagious. She loved being with people, which was evidenced by how carefully she listened and how generously she participated in our lives. She reveled in the successes and was sympathetic to the sorrows of those she loved. She was a joy to be around.

Karen came into our lives on September 8, 1955, at Saint Bernard Hospital in Chicago, the first child of Michael V. and Rose Marie McCarthy. She was raised in their home on South Campbell Avenue, a couple blocks from St. Cajetan's where Karen attended grade school and right next to Kennedy Park. Karen grew up in a typical Irish Catholic South Side neighborhood, filled with children, raised by parents whose lives were centered around their families.

As the oldest of the six McCarthy kids, she helped to care for her younger brothers, Brian, Mark, Sean and Mike, and her sister, Maureen. Karen was in many ways the central person of our family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. As a grown up, Karen was famous for calling and talking for at least an hour at a time. Because she lived in other states for quite a few years, she knew the importance of talking to her siblings and in-laws, and she worked to maintain the family relationships that were so important to her. As with most of the things she did, this work benefited others.

Karen empathized and identified with a vast array of people and personality types, which won her a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. As a child she had many playmates and as a teenager she liked to draw, swim and babysit. Her creative writing ability won her a medal in an American Legion Essay contest.

Karen went to Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School, and graduated from there in 1973. She was an enthusiastic and involved student who generally did well. She loved to learn, and this love of learning would be evidenced throughout her life. Classmates considered Karen a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything. While growing up, some of her best friends were Alice Nolan, Terri Walsh and Kathy Ryan. Along with spending time with her friends, Karen played volleyball and sang in the school choir. Her favorite class in high school was English.

Karen made the transition to college easily and did well there, also. She loved tackling new theories and thinking through new ideas. Continuing to pursue her love of literature, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, with a Minor in Political Science, from Northern Illinois University. She was a Resident Assistant and a member of Sigma Tau Delta National English Honor Society. She became friends with Chris Schmidt at college, and enjoyed that friendship, along with that of Wanda Ropa, for the rest of her life.

Karen loved animals and her dog, Molly, an English Springer Spaniel, was a best friend for 12 years.

Upon graduation, Karen became an English teacher at Mount Assisi High School, in Chicago. She then worked at Holy Cross Hospital, Jacobson and Associates, and Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia.

On August 3, 1991, after meeting through work and dating for a while, Karen and Thomas David Quinn were married at Notre Dame Church of Clarendon Hills, Illinois. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with each other and their families. Throughout their marriage, Karen spoke highly of Tom. She loved his sense of humor, his intelligence and his willingness to help. Toward the end of her life, she spoke often of his tenderness toward her – something that her family saw as he cared for her throughout her illness.

Karen's love of people lead her to volunteering. She was creative with planning and good at rallying support, which made her a great asset to the organizations she gave her time to. Karen volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of America and as a Docent at the High Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. She also participated in the High Museum Annual Holiday Event. A life long Democrat, she worked to collect signatures for Richard M. Daley.

Karen took part in a broad variety of activities during her life, pursuing numerous hobbies. Her favorite activities were centered around art - mostly painting and drawing. She dabbled in other types of art media such as pottery and print making as well. One of the things that so marked Karen's personality was her ability to laugh at herself, and to invite others into the fun. She reported that she was the worst potter in her pottery class...but the most prolific, creating 70 pots during one class. As her disease progressed, she worked around it by figuring out how to place her arm so that her pottery would be balanced.

Karen also enjoyed traveling. She loved spontaneity and surprises and traveling always brought new adventures to enjoy. She spent time painting what she'd seen on her trips and sharing her experiences with others. Favorite vacations included trips with Tom to Ireland, New Hampshire, a cruise on the Caribbean, and Arizona and a trip with her sister Maureen to New Mexico.

Karen was a member of Saint Cajetan Parish for many years. She spent her life giving to others and caring for them and always appreciating the beauty God surrounded her with. During her last weeks, she spent time listening to the Bible being read to her and talking about faith. She served as a wonderful example to all of us of how to live out our lives, loving and serving God by loving and serving others.

Karen Quinn passed away on September 19, 2010, at her home, in Woodridge. She is survived by her husband, Tom, and her siblings, Brian, Mark, Sean, Mike and Maureen, and the many nieces and nephews, who were so very special to her.

Karen lived her life with style, courage and grace. Ever the teacher, she taught us a lot about how to live, and, more recently, about how to die. She spent her life doing what was truly important – caring for and encouraging others. It has been a blessing and a privilege to be a part of her life.

Karen Marie Quinn, née McCarthy, 55 of Woodridge, Illinois, passed away Sunday, September 19, 2010, at home after a six year battle with cancer. Raised in Chicago, Karen attended St. Cajetan's and Mother McAuley. She graduated from NIU with a degree in English. A teacher and an artist, Karen taught high school English, both in schools and online. She worked at Holy Cross Hospital in administration. She volunteered as a docent at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA, and gave of her time and talent to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She was a generous and loving soul and fought her cancer with grace and courage. Toward the end of her life she took a trip to Ireland with her husband, to Santa Fe with her sister, and spent time with her family and friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Michael V. and Rose Marie McCarthy, of Chicago, and by her mother-in-law, JoAnn L. Quinn., of West Salem, Wisconsin.

Karen is survived by her husband, Thomas, her sister Maureen (Sid Jones) of Chicago, brothers Brian (Ann) of Hoffman Estates, Mark (Bonnie) of Evanston, Sean (Ann) of Naperville, and Michael (Margie) of Woodrige, her father-in-law Nicholas Quinn of LaCrosse, WI, brother-in-laws Michael (Jennifer) Quinn of Onalaska, WI, Patrick (Joan) Quinn of Rochester, MN, James (Monica) Quinn of West Salem, WI, and sister-in-law, Maureen Quinn of Rochester, MN.

Karen was a loving aunt to Megan, Chelsea, Conor, John, Katie, Daniel and Kaylee McCarthy; Weston and Declan Jones; and Nicholas, Michelle, Molly, Rachel, Andrew, Brian and Kallie Quinn. One of Karen's greatest joys was attending the performances and events that her nieces and nephews took part in.

Memorial Visitation will be held Friday, September 24, 2010 from 3 – 8 pm at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Ave., Lisle (on Rt. 53, ½ mile south of Ogden Ave. / Rt. 34). Family and friends may meet for Memorial Mass Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 10:00 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 820 Division St., Lisle, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club of America (bgca.org).