Kathleen Gillespie

Kathleen (nee Ward) Gillespie

Born in Nobber, County Meath, Ireland to the late Peter and Mary (nee Hand) Ward; beloved wife of the late Charles Gillespie; loving mother of Maureen, Rose (Brian) Doherty and James; cherished grandmother of Kevin Doherty and Katie (Brian) Timmreck; soon to be a great-grandmother. Predeceased by her siblings Lawrence Ward of Rathgar, Dublin Ireland, Margaret Risberg of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Mary Josephine Merrigan of Orange, California.

As an infant, Kathleen lost her parents to illness and spent her childhood in a convent orphanage in Kells, Ireland. After leaving the orphanage at 14, she lived with her Aunt Kate (nee Ward) Rogers in Dublin. As a young woman, Kathleen followed her sisters to Chicago and lived with her Aunt Maggie (nee Hand) Casey and her daughter, Mary Casey. A few months later, she met the tall and handsome Charles Gillespie at an Irish dance, who had himself just arrived from Donegal, Ireland. They soon fell in love, married, and built a beautiful life together in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. They worked hard jobs to give their children every opportunity that they never had, instilling the value of a Catholic education, and keeping their Irish culture alive with dance and music lessons—all three becoming champion Irish dancers. Known for her shock of red hair, charm, and quick wit, Kathleen the “Little Red Tornado” Gillespie most loved spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Visitation Friday 3-8PM and Saturday 9:00 AM until time of prayer 9:45 AM at Gibbons Family Funeral Home, 5917 W. Irving Park Rd. (1/2 Block East of Austin). Funeral Mass Saturday 10:30 AM at St Eugene Church, 7958 W. Foster Ave. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1400 S. Wolf Rd., Hillside; Lady of Knock Section 42, Lot 11. For info 773-777-3944 or www.GFFH.com