Marjorie Barbara Yunker, nee Schmidt, age 88, of Chicago, Illinois passed away peacefully with family by her side on August 30, 2010.
Marge was a fourth generation parishioner of St. Alphonsus at Lincoln/Southport/Wellington in Chicago. Marge and her husband both graduated from St. Alphonsus School, as did her seven children and several grand-children. Marge was devoted to her "St. Al's" community in many ways. Most notably, as a Minister of Care for many years. She sang in the church choir until age 85. She was a founding member of the Mothers' Club and participated for 30 years. Marge was an original member of the South Lakeview Neighbors, spending many years as a community activist in the neighborhood that she loved so much. She was a loving, caring friend to all she knew.
Marge was born on April 1, 1922 to Gertrude and August Schmidt; beloved wife of the late Thomas N. Yunker; loving mother of Marjorie Ann (Earl) Scott, Michael (Helga), John (Bonnie), Kateri, Marilyn (Jacob) Ruiz, Robert (Sharon) and Mary Ellen (Michael) Azzi; proud grandmother of 15; great-grandmother of many; dear sister to the late Vincent (Bernadette) Schmidt, Geraldine (the late James) Lawrence, and Imelda (Edward) Hettinger; aunt to many nieces and nephews.
She will be deeply missed by everyone. Visitation at Herdegen-Brieske Funeral Home, 1356 W. Wellington Ave. 3 to 9 p.m. Friday. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m. from chapel to St. Alphonsus Church, Mass 11 a.m. Int. St. Boniface Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: St. Alphonsus "Organ Maintenance", 1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL. 60657.
[Published: Chicago Sun Times September 6, 2010]
Marjorie Yunker's life was anchored in the North Side neighborhood that includes St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.
Several generations of her family attended mass and school at the historically German parish, and she served in the choir and as a minister for care for decades.
Even though she moved to Niles in the 1990s, then to a retirement community in Norwood Park, she still regularly attended Sunday services at St. Alphonsus, 1429 W. Wellington.
The neighborhood "was my mother's passion," said her son Robert Yunker. "It's where her ancestors grew up; her whole life was there."
Mrs. Yunker died Aug. 30 of complications following a hemorrhagic stroke. She was 88.
Born Marjorie Schmidt on April 1, 1922, Mrs. Yunker grew up in the 1400 block of West George in a house built by her family after they emigrated from Germany in the 1880s.
Mrs. Yunker graduated from St. Alphonsus grade school and high school. Some time after graduation, as the United States became involved in World War II, she went to work as a secretary for the War Department.
In 1944, she traveled to Fort Benning in Georgia and married a boy from the neighborhood, Thomas Yunker, at a chapel on base.
"Her entire life was this beautiful Gothic church in Chicago, and she got married in a small chapel on base in a modest two-piece suit. It was so romantic," said her daughter Mary Ellen Azzi.
When the war ended, Mrs. Yunker moved into her husband's home -- in the 1400 block of West Oakdale.
"All she had to do was pack up her few little belongings and walk across the alley," Azzi said. Between 1946 and 1954, Mrs. Yunker had six children. She almost died from severe hemorrhaging during the birth of her sixth child.
"The doctor came out and told my father that he just had closed her up, and say a prayer," said Azzi. Mrs. Yunker recovered and was advised not to have any more children. But six years later, she gave birth to her seventh child.
All of Mrs. Yunker's children were educated at St. Alphonsus, as well as some of her grandchildren.
For more than 50 years, she was involved in the parish mothers club. She also volunteered at the school's library and served on the Liturgy Board in the 1990s. For two decades, she served as a minister of care, delivering communion to individuals who were homebound and could not attend mass. She sang in the church choir for more than 30 years.
"Even though she wasn't singing with the choir these last few years, she was a fixture on the north side of the church; you could always see her sitting by a pillar," said Dennis Stafira, who sings in the church choir." You can't separate Marge and St. Al's," said Azzi. "It's like one of her limbs."
Mrs. Yunker showed the same kind of dedication to her neighborhood. While in her 70s, she was a key part of efforts to house a program for formerly homeless women in what used to be a convent at St. Alphonsus.
"She wasn't somebody who would be sitting at home watching 'I Love Lucy' re-runs," said Azzi. "She could get feisty and make herself known."
"She was a woman full of faith, active until the very end," said the Rev. James Hurlbert, pastor at St. Alphonsus. "She was one of the wonderful people who made the parish for many, many years. It is a great loss for us."
Mrs. Yunker's husband died in 1989.
Mrs. Yunker is also survived by sons Michael and John; daughters Marjorie Anne Scott, Kateri Yunker and Marilyn Ruiz; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and two sisters.
Marge was a fourth generation parishioner of St. Alphonsus at Lincoln/Southport/Wellington in Chicago. Marge and her husband both graduated from St. Alphonsus School, as did her seven children and several grand-children. Marge was devoted to her "St. Al's" community in many ways. Most notably, as a Minister of Care for many years. She sang in the church choir until age 85. She was a founding member of the Mothers' Club and participated for 30 years. Marge was an original member of the South Lakeview Neighbors, spending many years as a community activist in the neighborhood that she loved so much. She was a loving, caring friend to all she knew.
Marge was born on April 1, 1922 to Gertrude and August Schmidt; beloved wife of the late Thomas N. Yunker; loving mother of Marjorie Ann (Earl) Scott, Michael (Helga), John (Bonnie), Kateri, Marilyn (Jacob) Ruiz, Robert (Sharon) and Mary Ellen (Michael) Azzi; proud grandmother of 15; great-grandmother of many; dear sister to the late Vincent (Bernadette) Schmidt, Geraldine (the late James) Lawrence, and Imelda (Edward) Hettinger; aunt to many nieces and nephews.
She will be deeply missed by everyone. Visitation at Herdegen-Brieske Funeral Home, 1356 W. Wellington Ave. 3 to 9 p.m. Friday. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m. from chapel to St. Alphonsus Church, Mass 11 a.m. Int. St. Boniface Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: St. Alphonsus "Organ Maintenance", 1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL. 60657.
[Published: Chicago Sun Times September 6, 2010]
Marjorie Yunker's life was anchored in the North Side neighborhood that includes St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.
Several generations of her family attended mass and school at the historically German parish, and she served in the choir and as a minister for care for decades.
Even though she moved to Niles in the 1990s, then to a retirement community in Norwood Park, she still regularly attended Sunday services at St. Alphonsus, 1429 W. Wellington.
The neighborhood "was my mother's passion," said her son Robert Yunker. "It's where her ancestors grew up; her whole life was there."
Mrs. Yunker died Aug. 30 of complications following a hemorrhagic stroke. She was 88.
Born Marjorie Schmidt on April 1, 1922, Mrs. Yunker grew up in the 1400 block of West George in a house built by her family after they emigrated from Germany in the 1880s.
Mrs. Yunker graduated from St. Alphonsus grade school and high school. Some time after graduation, as the United States became involved in World War II, she went to work as a secretary for the War Department.
In 1944, she traveled to Fort Benning in Georgia and married a boy from the neighborhood, Thomas Yunker, at a chapel on base.
"Her entire life was this beautiful Gothic church in Chicago, and she got married in a small chapel on base in a modest two-piece suit. It was so romantic," said her daughter Mary Ellen Azzi.
When the war ended, Mrs. Yunker moved into her husband's home -- in the 1400 block of West Oakdale.
"All she had to do was pack up her few little belongings and walk across the alley," Azzi said. Between 1946 and 1954, Mrs. Yunker had six children. She almost died from severe hemorrhaging during the birth of her sixth child.
"The doctor came out and told my father that he just had closed her up, and say a prayer," said Azzi. Mrs. Yunker recovered and was advised not to have any more children. But six years later, she gave birth to her seventh child.
All of Mrs. Yunker's children were educated at St. Alphonsus, as well as some of her grandchildren.
For more than 50 years, she was involved in the parish mothers club. She also volunteered at the school's library and served on the Liturgy Board in the 1990s. For two decades, she served as a minister of care, delivering communion to individuals who were homebound and could not attend mass. She sang in the church choir for more than 30 years.
"Even though she wasn't singing with the choir these last few years, she was a fixture on the north side of the church; you could always see her sitting by a pillar," said Dennis Stafira, who sings in the church choir." You can't separate Marge and St. Al's," said Azzi. "It's like one of her limbs."
Mrs. Yunker showed the same kind of dedication to her neighborhood. While in her 70s, she was a key part of efforts to house a program for formerly homeless women in what used to be a convent at St. Alphonsus.
"She wasn't somebody who would be sitting at home watching 'I Love Lucy' re-runs," said Azzi. "She could get feisty and make herself known."
"She was a woman full of faith, active until the very end," said the Rev. James Hurlbert, pastor at St. Alphonsus. "She was one of the wonderful people who made the parish for many, many years. It is a great loss for us."
Mrs. Yunker's husband died in 1989.
Mrs. Yunker is also survived by sons Michael and John; daughters Marjorie Anne Scott, Kateri Yunker and Marilyn Ruiz; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and two sisters.
Marjorie Barbara Yunker, nee Schmidt, age 88, of Chicago, Illinois passed away peacefully with family by her side on August 30, 2010.
Marge was a fourth generation parishioner of St. Alphonsus at Lincoln/Southport/Wellington in Chicago. Marge and her husband both graduated from St. Alphonsus School, as did her seven children and several grand-children. Marge was devoted to her "St. Al's" community in many ways. Most notably, as a Minister of Care for many years. She sang in the church choir until age 85. She was a founding member of the Mothers' Club and participated for 30 years. Marge was an original member of the South Lakeview Neighbors, spending many years as a community activist in the neighborhood that she loved so much. She was a loving, caring friend to all she knew.
Marge was born on April 1, 1922 to Gertrude and August Schmidt; beloved wife of the late Thomas N. Yunker; loving mother of Marjorie Ann (Earl) Scott, Michael (Helga), John (Bonnie), Kateri, Marilyn (Jacob) Ruiz, Robert (Sharon) and Mary Ellen (Michael) Azzi; proud grandmother of 15; great-grandmother of many; dear sister to the late Vincent (Bernadette) Schmidt, Geraldine (the late James) Lawrence, and Imelda (Edward) Hettinger; aunt to many nieces and nephews.
She will be deeply missed by everyone. Visitation at Herdegen-Brieske Funeral Home, 1356 W. Wellington Ave. 3 to 9 p.m. Friday. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m. from chapel to St. Alphonsus Church, Mass 11 a.m. Int. St. Boniface Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: St. Alphonsus "Organ Maintenance", 1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL. 60657.
[Published: Chicago Sun Times September 6, 2010]
Marjorie Yunker's life was anchored in the North Side neighborhood that includes St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.
Several generations of her family attended mass and school at the historically German parish, and she served in the choir and as a minister for care for decades.
Even though she moved to Niles in the 1990s, then to a retirement community in Norwood Park, she still regularly attended Sunday services at St. Alphonsus, 1429 W. Wellington.
The neighborhood "was my mother's passion," said her son Robert Yunker. "It's where her ancestors grew up; her whole life was there."
Mrs. Yunker died Aug. 30 of complications following a hemorrhagic stroke. She was 88.
Born Marjorie Schmidt on April 1, 1922, Mrs. Yunker grew up in the 1400 block of West George in a house built by her family after they emigrated from Germany in the 1880s.
Mrs. Yunker graduated from St. Alphonsus grade school and high school. Some time after graduation, as the United States became involved in World War II, she went to work as a secretary for the War Department.
In 1944, she traveled to Fort Benning in Georgia and married a boy from the neighborhood, Thomas Yunker, at a chapel on base.
"Her entire life was this beautiful Gothic church in Chicago, and she got married in a small chapel on base in a modest two-piece suit. It was so romantic," said her daughter Mary Ellen Azzi.
When the war ended, Mrs. Yunker moved into her husband's home -- in the 1400 block of West Oakdale.
"All she had to do was pack up her few little belongings and walk across the alley," Azzi said. Between 1946 and 1954, Mrs. Yunker had six children. She almost died from severe hemorrhaging during the birth of her sixth child.
"The doctor came out and told my father that he just had closed her up, and say a prayer," said Azzi. Mrs. Yunker recovered and was advised not to have any more children. But six years later, she gave birth to her seventh child.
All of Mrs. Yunker's children were educated at St. Alphonsus, as well as some of her grandchildren.
For more than 50 years, she was involved in the parish mothers club. She also volunteered at the school's library and served on the Liturgy Board in the 1990s. For two decades, she served as a minister of care, delivering communion to individuals who were homebound and could not attend mass. She sang in the church choir for more than 30 years.
"Even though she wasn't singing with the choir these last few years, she was a fixture on the north side of the church; you could always see her sitting by a pillar," said Dennis Stafira, who sings in the church choir." You can't separate Marge and St. Al's," said Azzi. "It's like one of her limbs."
Mrs. Yunker showed the same kind of dedication to her neighborhood. While in her 70s, she was a key part of efforts to house a program for formerly homeless women in what used to be a convent at St. Alphonsus.
"She wasn't somebody who would be sitting at home watching 'I Love Lucy' re-runs," said Azzi. "She could get feisty and make herself known."
"She was a woman full of faith, active until the very end," said the Rev. James Hurlbert, pastor at St. Alphonsus. "She was one of the wonderful people who made the parish for many, many years. It is a great loss for us."
Mrs. Yunker's husband died in 1989.
Mrs. Yunker is also survived by sons Michael and John; daughters Marjorie Anne Scott, Kateri Yunker and Marilyn Ruiz; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and two sisters.
Marge was a fourth generation parishioner of St. Alphonsus at Lincoln/Southport/Wellington in Chicago. Marge and her husband both graduated from St. Alphonsus School, as did her seven children and several grand-children. Marge was devoted to her "St. Al's" community in many ways. Most notably, as a Minister of Care for many years. She sang in the church choir until age 85. She was a founding member of the Mothers' Club and participated for 30 years. Marge was an original member of the South Lakeview Neighbors, spending many years as a community activist in the neighborhood that she loved so much. She was a loving, caring friend to all she knew.
Marge was born on April 1, 1922 to Gertrude and August Schmidt; beloved wife of the late Thomas N. Yunker; loving mother of Marjorie Ann (Earl) Scott, Michael (Helga), John (Bonnie), Kateri, Marilyn (Jacob) Ruiz, Robert (Sharon) and Mary Ellen (Michael) Azzi; proud grandmother of 15; great-grandmother of many; dear sister to the late Vincent (Bernadette) Schmidt, Geraldine (the late James) Lawrence, and Imelda (Edward) Hettinger; aunt to many nieces and nephews.
She will be deeply missed by everyone. Visitation at Herdegen-Brieske Funeral Home, 1356 W. Wellington Ave. 3 to 9 p.m. Friday. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m. from chapel to St. Alphonsus Church, Mass 11 a.m. Int. St. Boniface Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: St. Alphonsus "Organ Maintenance", 1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL. 60657.
[Published: Chicago Sun Times September 6, 2010]
Marjorie Yunker's life was anchored in the North Side neighborhood that includes St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.
Several generations of her family attended mass and school at the historically German parish, and she served in the choir and as a minister for care for decades.
Even though she moved to Niles in the 1990s, then to a retirement community in Norwood Park, she still regularly attended Sunday services at St. Alphonsus, 1429 W. Wellington.
The neighborhood "was my mother's passion," said her son Robert Yunker. "It's where her ancestors grew up; her whole life was there."
Mrs. Yunker died Aug. 30 of complications following a hemorrhagic stroke. She was 88.
Born Marjorie Schmidt on April 1, 1922, Mrs. Yunker grew up in the 1400 block of West George in a house built by her family after they emigrated from Germany in the 1880s.
Mrs. Yunker graduated from St. Alphonsus grade school and high school. Some time after graduation, as the United States became involved in World War II, she went to work as a secretary for the War Department.
In 1944, she traveled to Fort Benning in Georgia and married a boy from the neighborhood, Thomas Yunker, at a chapel on base.
"Her entire life was this beautiful Gothic church in Chicago, and she got married in a small chapel on base in a modest two-piece suit. It was so romantic," said her daughter Mary Ellen Azzi.
When the war ended, Mrs. Yunker moved into her husband's home -- in the 1400 block of West Oakdale.
"All she had to do was pack up her few little belongings and walk across the alley," Azzi said. Between 1946 and 1954, Mrs. Yunker had six children. She almost died from severe hemorrhaging during the birth of her sixth child.
"The doctor came out and told my father that he just had closed her up, and say a prayer," said Azzi. Mrs. Yunker recovered and was advised not to have any more children. But six years later, she gave birth to her seventh child.
All of Mrs. Yunker's children were educated at St. Alphonsus, as well as some of her grandchildren.
For more than 50 years, she was involved in the parish mothers club. She also volunteered at the school's library and served on the Liturgy Board in the 1990s. For two decades, she served as a minister of care, delivering communion to individuals who were homebound and could not attend mass. She sang in the church choir for more than 30 years.
"Even though she wasn't singing with the choir these last few years, she was a fixture on the north side of the church; you could always see her sitting by a pillar," said Dennis Stafira, who sings in the church choir." You can't separate Marge and St. Al's," said Azzi. "It's like one of her limbs."
Mrs. Yunker showed the same kind of dedication to her neighborhood. While in her 70s, she was a key part of efforts to house a program for formerly homeless women in what used to be a convent at St. Alphonsus.
"She wasn't somebody who would be sitting at home watching 'I Love Lucy' re-runs," said Azzi. "She could get feisty and make herself known."
"She was a woman full of faith, active until the very end," said the Rev. James Hurlbert, pastor at St. Alphonsus. "She was one of the wonderful people who made the parish for many, many years. It is a great loss for us."
Mrs. Yunker's husband died in 1989.
Mrs. Yunker is also survived by sons Michael and John; daughters Marjorie Anne Scott, Kateri Yunker and Marilyn Ruiz; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and two sisters.
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