Obituaries
Obituary for Bernadette McGrath
On May 18, 2022 at Hopedale Nursing Home, Bernadette McGrath passed away at the age of 93 following a brief illness. She married Edward T. McGrath on September 6, 1952 and together they had six children. Mark (Dottie) McGrath of Mackinaw, Steve McGrath of Singapore, Ed (Diane) McGrath of Inverness, Mary McGrath, Claudia (Jim) Frey of Ashford, WA and Brendan (Sherri) McGrath of Manassas VA.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Mary, husband Edward and granddaughter Sacha McGrath.
Bernadette was born September 1, 1928, daughter of Thomas and Virginia Murphy of Chicago. When she was eight her mother contracted tuberculosis and died. After serving in WWI, her father was unable to care for his youngest children and surrendered custody to the state of Illinois. Bernadette, her sister Virginia and her brother Joseph lived at Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Normal, Illinois. After a number of years, she was placed in foster care with Lloyd and Mary Phelps of Dixon, IL. She received loving care from the Phelps family. She graduated from Dixon High School in 1947.
Bernadette attended St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago where she became a Registered Nurse and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. After graduation, she worked as a surgical nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital. She later moved back to Dixon where she worked at Dixon State Mental Hospital.
She met her husband Edward while working at the State Hospital where he worked in administration. Soon after they married, they moved back to Chicago for Edward to attend the University of Chicago where he earned his Master's Degree in Hospital Administration. Bernadette continued to work as a Registered Nurse in Chicago until Edward finished his degree. During this time, they welcomed the birth of their first son Mark.
After Edward completed his degree, they moved to Bartonville where he worked as an Administrator at the Bartonville State Mental Hospital. Bernadette then retired from nursing to be a stay-at-home mom to her growing family.
Bernadette had 10 grandchildren: Joe McGrath, Pat McGrath, Molly McGrath, Meghan McGrath, Michael McGrath, Maureen McGrath, Madeline Frey, Emily Frey, Thomas McGrath and Theresa McGrath. She also had 9 great-grandchildren.
She was a resident at Hopedale Medical Complex for the past six years where she received loving care from the staff.
Bernadette was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be missed by all who knew her.
A visitation will be held on Monday May 23rd from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Delavan followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00. The burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria immediately following the Mass. Wright & Salmon Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the building fund at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hopedale or to the Hopedale Medical Foundation.
To express condolences online, visit www.wrightandsalmon.com
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She was preceded in death by her daughter Mary, husband Edward and granddaughter Sacha McGrath.
Bernadette was born September 1, 1928, daughter of Thomas and Virginia Murphy of Chicago. When she was eight her mother contracted tuberculosis and died. After serving in WWI, her father was unable to care for his youngest children and surrendered custody to the state of Illinois. Bernadette, her sister Virginia and her brother Joseph lived at Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Normal, Illinois. After a number of years, she was placed in foster care with Lloyd and Mary Phelps of Dixon, IL. She received loving care from the Phelps family. She graduated from Dixon High School in 1947.
Bernadette attended St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago where she became a Registered Nurse and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. After graduation, she worked as a surgical nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital. She later moved back to Dixon where she worked at Dixon State Mental Hospital.
She met her husband Edward while working at the State Hospital where he worked in administration. Soon after they married, they moved back to Chicago for Edward to attend the University of Chicago where he earned his Master's Degree in Hospital Administration. Bernadette continued to work as a Registered Nurse in Chicago until Edward finished his degree. During this time, they welcomed the birth of their first son Mark.
After Edward completed his degree, they moved to Bartonville where he worked as an Administrator at the Bartonville State Mental Hospital. Bernadette then retired from nursing to be a stay-at-home mom to her growing family.
Bernadette had 10 grandchildren: Joe McGrath, Pat McGrath, Molly McGrath, Meghan McGrath, Michael McGrath, Maureen McGrath, Madeline Frey, Emily Frey, Thomas McGrath and Theresa McGrath. She also had 9 great-grandchildren.
She was a resident at Hopedale Medical Complex for the past six years where she received loving care from the staff.
Bernadette was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be missed by all who knew her.
A visitation will be held on Monday May 23rd from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Delavan followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00. The burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Peoria immediately following the Mass. Wright & Salmon Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the building fund at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hopedale or to the Hopedale Medical Foundation.
To express condolences online, visit www.wrightandsalmon.com
Previous Events
Visitation
Monday
23
May
9:30 AM
- 10:45 AM
St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception
505 E. 4th St.
Delavan, IL 61734
Funeral Mass
Monday
23
May
11:00 AM
St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception
505 E. 4th St.
Delavan, IL 61734
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