Obituary for Gayle Virginia Hurley Gayle Virginia Hurley, sister, aunt, and great aunt extraordinaire, passed away peacefully at the home of her niece Stephanie Hurley and under the loving care of her family on April 25th, 2018 after 85 years of living life on her own terms. The cause of death was breast cancer. Though she herself never chose to marry or have children, Gayle was fiercely devoted to family.
From the three generations of babies, children, and adults she helped raise, to the elderly relatives she patiently cared for, to the legions of ancestors she honored through her tireless genealogical research and her hand-crafted family albums, Gayle cast a wide net of love. She will be deeply missed. Gayle was born in Peoria, Illinois on October 9, 1932, one of four children of Thomas and Irene (nee Bushell) Hurley.
She helped her working mother with the other kids, but also with the cooking and cleaning, an experience that left her with a lasting distaste for domestic life. When her classmates married, she went onto masters-level studies at the Art Institute of Chicago. When she traveled to Europe with some other young women who apparently lacked an adequate sense of adventure, Gayle ditched them mid-trip and traveled alone so she could see more, eat what she wanted (often PB & J), and worry very little about the proprieties.
She forged her own path. Artistic, inventive, and often quirky, Gayle sold watercolors at the Old Town Art Fair and had careers in textile design and floral arrangement. Her basement was full of the odds and ends necessary to create almost anything out of almost nothing, and she used it all to bring the joy of creativity to any child within reach.
She was never happier than when encouraging toddlers to cover themselves with finger paint or creating an annual, legendary, Halloween haunted house in the basement. Neighborhoods full of children knew and loved Auntie Gayle. Like them, we will miss her creative spirit, her respect for children and adults alike, her talent for deeply listening to people, her devotion to a properly decorated holiday table, and her abiding sense of fun.
Gayle is survived by her devoted brother Terry (Marge) Hurley, by 10 nieces and nephews (Shari (George) Isaac, Tim (Danni Iosello) Hurley, Lisa Beyer, Chris (Becky) Hurley, Kip (Mary) Hurley, Stephanie Hurley, Ross (Josefa) Beyer, Alex (Andrew) Walworth, Quinn Hurley Jr. and Veronique Hurley), by 16 grand-nieces and nephews (Drew and Megan Isaac; Matt, Dan and Katie Hurley; Guthrie, Rorie and William Beyer; Natalie Paulson; Victoria, Caroline and Grace Walworth; Colin, Emily and Tucker Hurley; and Fayne Hurley), by one great-grandnephew (George Anthony Isaac IV), and by many beloved furry friends (but absolutely none more beloved than Miguel). She was predeceased by her brother Quinn Hurley, her sister Zoe (nee Joyce) Hurley, and her cousin and buddy Don Trebbe. Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, November 23rd at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Glenview IL.
In lieu of flowers or donations, please sit on the floor with a child, create something artistic out of scraps, or quietly lend a hand to someone who needs one. Gayle would definitely approve. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gayle Virginia Hurley please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Memorial Mass 2018 NOV 23. 10:00 AM Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Corner of Church and Grove St. Glenview, IL, US, 60025 Order Flowers for the Memorial Mass Guaranteed delivery before Gayle’s Memorial Mass begins.
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