Services Saturday
Marcella “Marcie” Morgan (nee Hayes), age 99, of Elmhurst, died peacefully on Sept. 20, 2021. Marcie grew up in a loving family in Fort Wayne, Ind., where she graduated from Central Catholic High School (now Bishop Dwenger High) and met her husband, Wally, a World War II pilot, at the Army Officers’ Club. After brief stints in Augusta, Ga., and Washington D.C., they moved to Elmhurst, where she resided for 70 years, raising a family of nine. She was active in her community, especially in her parish of Immaculate Conception, where she served as a Eucharistic minister, sacristan, and lay minister to the sick. She was also deeply involved in the parish schools as a room mother and on various parent committees. She and Wally actively supported the parish high school, which all of their children attended, when it faced financial difficulties, serving as co-chairs of “The Knight of Jewels,” an annual fundraiser for the school. IC High School remains open and thrives to this day. In 1984, the IC Council of Catholic Women honored her contributions, naming her “Woman of the Year.” Marcie lived by the Catholic credo “care for the whole person, body, mind and spirit.” She nurtured and applauded her children’s academic accomplishments and a commitment to doing good in the world and, as an avid sports fan (particularly of Notre Dame football), instilled in them both a love of athletic competition and a spirit of good sportsmanship. As a daughter, sister, wife, and friend, she provided comfort in times of need. Wally and their dear son, Tom, pre-deceased Marcie. She is survived by her children Joe (Sue), Jim (Elissa), John (Rose), Ellen (Sheldon Zenner), Mike (Beth), Mary (Nick) Kondras, Mark (Joni), and Pat (Kelli); by her grandchildren, Brigid (Amy) Wasko, Betsy (Mike) Shannon, Erin (Joe) Goes, Nate (Alena), Robb (Julie), Gloria (Marty) Golle, Francis (Kristen) Spedafino, Amy (Lane) Stone, Laura (Chris) Bennett, Elie (Jill) Zenner, Nathaniel (Holly) Zenner, Neil, Molly, Emily (Matthew) Darnell, Wyatt Kondras (Ursula Sokol), Haley Thomas, Tory Thomas, Jack Thomas (Desi), Peter Thomas, Patrick, Mackenzie, and Mark; and by 22 great-grandchildren (with three more on the way.) Marcie will be remembered for her radiant smile, her selflessness, her countless acts of kindness, her humility, her dry wit, her prolific and eloquent letter-writing, and, most of all, for her deep and abiding faith. A Memorial Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Church, 134 Arthur St., Elmhurst on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m. (masks required). The family welcomes contributions in memory of Marcie to Daybreak (catholiccharitiesjoliet.org) and Care (care.org), organizations addressing homelessness and hunger that she supported. Arrangements provided by Gibbons Funeral Home.
