- Date Of Death: May 4, 2021
- State: Illinois
Marie Celine Lally (nee O’Donnell) was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, cousin, in-law, aunt and friend. She died peacefully in the home that she shared with her husband on May 4, 2021, at the age of 89.
On October 8, 1931, Marie was born in Chicago IL to Daniel and Mary O’Donnell (nee Mulcrone)—natives, respectively, of Newport and Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. She grew up in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, where she graduated from St. Angela (elementary) School and Siena High School.
While working for Illinois Bell, Marie met Michael Lally, whom she married while he was on leave from the U.S. Marine Corps in October of 1951.
As her youngest children gained independence, Marie returned to the out-of-home workforce. Laboring first in the cafeteria of Steinmetz High School, she built a career of more than twenty years with the Chicago Public Schools. She retired as a Teacher’s Aide from LeMoyne Elementary School, where she compassionately and patiently attended to the special needs of students on the autism spectrum.
In retirement, Marie and Mike resided for several years in Niles IL, and finally in the Resurrection Retirement Community of Chicago’s Northwest Side. Marie dedicated much of her time and treasure to the success of Chicago’s Irish American Heritage Center.
In addition to her husband of sixty-nine years, Mike, Marie is survived by darling sisters-in-law Marie Gaffney and Helen (the late Jim) Horn.
Our resilient matriarch was a humble lover of (and defender of) life, who was blessed to see all eight of her children exceed age fifty—a feat of good fortune! Profoundly faithful, Marie bore life’s indignities with grace, and she exulted in life’s rewards with generosity and joy.
