Ruth Starshak Martin, a 64-year resident of Elmhurst, passed away recently at the age of 93. A lifelong devoted volunteer, Ruth held leadership positions with countless charities and organizations throughout her life. For her alma-mater, Mount Mary University (’50), she served on the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, was an advisor on the National Alumnae Board, along with numerous committees. Ruth held many positions at her parish of 64 years, Immaculate Conception, including chair of the Parish Services Committee, the Advisory Council, the Coordinating Committee and the Council of Catholic Women. She also co-chaired the Vietnamese Resettlement Committee at IC. Ruth was a founding member of the People for Elmhurst Parks (PEP) Foundation, chairman of the Elmhurst Park District Citizens Advisory Commission, coordinator of the Park District’s Volunteer Services, facilitating the planting of hundreds of trees for Earth Day 1990. A few of the other organizations included Elmhurst Walk-In Ministry Network, United Community Concerns, The United Way (Director-At-Large), the Girl Scouts and was chair and discussion leader for Junior Great Books. Until just last year, Ruth was a Regional Award Judge for the Catholic Extension Society’s Lumen Christi Awards, a project that gave her great joy. Ruth held a wide variety of work positions, from NBC Television securing props for live television shows, to Elmhurst College’s adult education Center for Special Programs, the Office of Volunteer Services for Elmhurst Park District, Illinois Bell service rep and Marshall Field’s salesclerk, among others.
Ruth was the beloved wife of the late Edgar H. Martin; loving mother of Patty (Dee Schmidgall) Martin; dear sister of Sue (the late John) Klemmer, Joe (Mary Clare) Starshak and the late Thomas (the late Barb) and the late Albert (Mary) Starshak and the late Mary Kay (the late Hugh), fond aunt and great-aunt of many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 30 at 9 a.m. until time of prayers 10:30 a.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, Elmhurst. Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. MASKS REQUIRED AT VISITATION AND MASS due to private family health situation. NO EXCEPTIONS. Interment St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery, Lemont. The Mass will be livestreamed at the funeral home website. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 North Ridge, Chicago, 60660; or Mount Mary University, 2900 North Menomonee River Pkwy, Milwaukee, Wisc., 53222-4597. For funeral information please call 630-832-0018 or visit www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com
