Mary Ellen Gaffney

July 17, 1926 – November 17, 2013

Mary Ellen (Corrigan) Gaffney, 87, of Naples, Florida, passed away Sunday evening, November 17th, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family. She passed away peacefully at her home after several years of battling cancer.

Mary Ellen was born in Aurora, Illinois, to Frank J. and Dora L. Corrigan. She had three brothers, James, Jerome, and Joseph. She and her family attended Holy Angels Catholic Church in Aurora and Mary Ellen later attended Madonna Catholic High School in Aurora, graduating in 1944. Mary Ellen met Charles J. Gaffney of St. Charles during high school and later married in 1948. Charles and Mary quickly settled in St. Charles and began raising a family. Mary Ellen thoroughly enjoyed her role as wife and mother as well as assisting her husband's endeavors in the business world. She was always quick to love, listen, and provide encouragement to all of her children and friends. She thoroughly loved St. Charles, her involvement with Legion Post 342, the Woman's Club of St. Charles, and also serving as a Boys Scout Den Mother. She was daily involved with all of her children’s school activities, attending nearly all musical, theater, and sporting events. She was employed for several years at Frazier, Raftery, Orr & Fairbank Architects in Geneva, Illinois and also with the Trust Department, Barnett Bank of Naples. She loved all of the Chicago sports teams, especially the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears and often traveled to attend games with her children.

Mary Ellen is survived by her loving children Susan (Drew Ely) of Temple Terrace, Florida, Judy Malecot, of Naples, Florida, Kevin J. (Jane) Gaffney, of St. Charles, Illinois, and Tricia (Cory) of Cape Coral, Florida. She leaves behind 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Jerome, her former husband, Charles J. Gaffney of Naples, Florida, a daughter who died in birth, and most recently, a son, Charles J. Gaffney III, who died in October, 2013.

A memorial service was held at Hodges Funeral Home, Memorial Gardens, Naples, Florida on November 22, 2013. Cremation and burial will take place in December. Another memorial for her friends and relatives will be held on Thursday July 31, 2014 at Pottawatomie Park (Gaffney Field) in St. Charles, Illinois, a place she loved and also considered home. Her family encourages all who loved and enjoyed being with Mary Ellen to attend and share their memories. Both Mary Ellen and her son Charles J. Gaffney will be honored and remembered on July 31, 2014. A mass for both will be said at St. Patrick’s Church in St. Charles on July 31st.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to Hospice of Naples, Florida and the American Cancer Society. Cards and tributes may also be mailed to the care of Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Ave. North, Naples, Florida, 34108 or posted at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com