Obituary of Bernice Killelea

Bernice Killelea Age 92, died on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home in Joliet, IL. She was born April 3, 1917 to Joseph Killelea and Mary Rosella Graham in Grand Rapids Township, IL. Her family experienced tragedy early with the loss of their mother from Bright's disease. She was raised with her brother James and sisters Mary, Edna and Cele with her mother's family until her father remarried and the family moved to Joliet. Bernice began her education in one of the last one room school houses in Grand Rapids, Township named Prairie Queen and finished at St. Francis Academy in Joliet with the class of 1937. Following her high school she was called to vocation of service and entered the order of the Dominican Nursing Sisters of the Sick Poor in 1942 and took the name of Sister Mary Josepha Killelea. Her service to the sick and poor took her to communities in Colorado, Ohio and New York for the next thirty six years when she retired from the Dominican order. She became a registered nurse upon graduation from the Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing in New York in 1947 and later obtained a B.S. in Nursing from Dayton University in 1963. Bernice returned to Joliet upon her retirement where she continued to stay involved with her brother and sisters families and her community. She has been preceded in death by her brother James "Jake" Killelea and Edna (Krall) Onderisin and brothers-in-law Richard Krall and Michael Onderisin. She is survived by her sisters Mary (James) McTague of Joliet and Cele (late John) Smith of Peoria, IL. Many nieces, nephews and extended family as well as countless souls she has touched in God's name. May she rest in Peace of the Lord our Savior. Funeral services for Bernice Killelea will be Saturday February 27, 2010 at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming Avenue in Joliet, where the visitation will begin at 9 a.m. until the mass of Christian Burial is celebrated at 10 a.m. Interment St. Columba Cemetery, Ottawa, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Joliet Area Communtiy Hospice Foundation would be appreciated. For information: FRED C. DAMES FUNERAL HOME (815) 741-5500 www.fredcdames.com