Sister Ann Ellen Quirk, BVM entered into eternal life on Saturday, September 22, 2018. A 59 year resident of Wilmington, Illinois, Sr. Ann Ellen since 2015 had resided in the Caritas Center at Mount Carmel, which is located along the beautiful bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. Mount Carmel is the spiritual home of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin.
Born February 8, 1931 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mariellyn was a daughter of William James and Margaret Mary (Roe) Quirk. She attended the local Catholic grade school and graduated from Holy Angels Academy High School, where she was inspired by her teachers, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) Order. Following high school, she entered the BVM congregation on September 8, 1949, from St. Augustine Parish in Milwaukee.
She went on to earn her undergraduate degree in music from Mundelein College and a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University Chicago. On March 19, 1952, Sr. Ann Ellen professed her first vows; arrived at St. Rose Parish in Wilmington on March 20, 1952, and professed her final vows on July 16, 1957. In keeping with the core values of the BVM Order (Freedom, Education, Charity and Justice), Sr. Ann Ellen provided and taught artistic values to children through piano and music instruction at St. Rose School for 33 years.
In addition to teaching music, Sister initiated a food pantry out of her music room in 1981, and soon thereafter in 1982 created and organized the Christian Help Association. This organization brought together all of the churches in the community, regardless of denomination, with a mission of serving the less fortunate during the holidays. As Sister’s vision and ministry continued to grow, it was in 1984 that Fr.
Mark Fracaro gifted her with the keys to 635 South Main Street. This was the beginning of Kuzma Care Cottage, which she named after Fr. George Kuzma who brought the BVM Sisters to Wilmington to teach at St. Rose School.
Today Kuzma Care Cottage continues to operate each day for the benefit of all the people and with the support of all the churches and civic organizations in our area. A woman of Irish decent, Sr. Ann Ellen loved her Irish Heritage. She loved to sing, had a beautiful voice and started the ‘Good News Singers’ choir at St. Rose Parish.
She had a love of family and enjoyed sharing pictures and stories with them. A community which she dearly loved, Sister also considered the people of Wilmington her family, and was fortunate to have a BVM family who enjoyed their visits. Sister Ann Ellen was humbled to have been recognized by the Unites States Senate, State of Illinois, Will County Board, Catholic Charities, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, the Wilmington V.F.W., the Ladies Auxiliary of the V.F.W., the Gleaners, and the Wilmington Pastors Association, among many others.
She was honored as an Outstanding Citizen in the City of Wilmington through a proclamation dated the 7th day of September, 1999, and September 1999 was proclaimed “Sr. Ann Ellen Month”. In addition, the City of Wilmington named the 600 block of north Main Street between Wabash and Laurel Streets, “Sr.
Ann Ellen Quirk B.V.M. Parkway”. Through her efforts, Sr. Ann Ellen Quirk, BVM made our world a better place. She will be remembered for the comfort, solace and friendship she provided for those who were suffering and less fortunate.
Her legacy will also continue to live on as we continue her mission of coming together as a community, regardless of religion, to help others, just as God wants us to do. Survivors include her sister, Margaret “Peggy” Quirk of Muskego, Wisconsin; sister-in-law Marlene Quirk of West Bend, Wisconsin; nieces; nephews and countless dear friends, as well as the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 69 years. Sr. Ann Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Catherine (Robert) Kiesl, and brothers William (Grace) Quirk and Robert Quirk.
A visitation and Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in the Marian Hall Chapel of Mt. Carmel in Dubuque, Iowa, and she will be laid to rest in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service at St. Rose Catholic Church, 604 South Kankakee Street in Wilmington on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. The Mass will be concelebrated with Reverend Sebastian Gargol and Reverend Jim Lennon, as well as Deacon Jay Plese presiding. A memorial luncheon provided by the St. Rose C.C.W. in St. Rose School will immediately follow the services. Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Sr. Ann Ellen’s memory to Kuzma Care Cottage, 635 S. Main Street, Wilmington, Illinois 60481 or to the Sr. Ann Ellen Tuition Assistance Fund c/o St. Rose School, 626 S. Kankakee Street, Wilmington, Illinois 60481.
Family and friends may sign the guest book, upload photographs or share Sr. Ann Ellen’s memorial page online by logging onto: www.
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