Carol Conway

Carol Conway was the fourth and cutest of the children of Thomas “Cuddles” and Julia (Nash) Conway. Born on December 29, 1949 (a whole day after her life-long friend Dorothy (McCauley) Kijek), Carol was raised along with her older siblings, Tommy “Herm”, Mercedes “Gitz”, and Dennis “Winque”, in St. Sabina parish. She attended St. Sabina, Queen of Peace, and St. Mary of the Woods.

Upon graduation, she began her 34-year career as a Chicago Public School English teacher, spending her time at Morgan Park High School and Hyde Park Career Academy. During that time, she earned a Master’s degree in English at Chicago State University and nearly completed her Master’s in Administration and Supervision (but wouldn’t take statistics). During her career, she won many awards for her outstanding teaching and impact, such as the Blume-Kovler Award, Suave Performance Plus Award, and Pepsi Educational Excellence Award. She ended her career as the International Baccalaureate coordinator at Morgan Park Academy.

The day she retired, she continued her quest for personal growth as she began her pastoral studies program through Loyola University. She obtained her Master’s in Pastoral Studies in 2007 and was hired by her dear friend Father Bill Malloy as the Pastoral Associate at St. Germaine, where she remained until final retirement in 2015.

That same year, she became an Associate of the Sisters of Mercy, which was a truly life-altering decision. As a Mercy Associate, she was a founder of Catherine’s Caring Cause, Inc. NFP, and joined its board to aid asylum seekers and refugees. Therefore, she was privileged to work with Sisters Pat Murphy and JoAnn Persch, trailblazers for immigrant advocacy. She has been blessed with the prayers, support, and love of the entire Mercy community.

In 2020, Carol returned to teaching as an educator at Saint Xavier University’s Renaissance program. She taught literary classics with her own unique twist. Never one to settle for the bare minimum, Carol also was served as the program’s publicity chairperson and organized its annual Memorial Mass for deceased members.

Carol’s parents and sister (who became Sr. Gilchrist) beat her to heaven and are waiting to start her welcome home party. Carol’s devoted family includes, but is not limited to, her brother Tommy and his wife Eunice, her brother Dennis and his wife Debbie, and her eleven nieces and nephews and thirty great-nieces and great-nephews. Other non-blood family members include Pat Bugos, Dorothy Kijek, Peggy Goddard, Irma Montiel, and Nick Buttliere, her Mercy family, and her devoted flusher and driver team.

Many friends and family have been exceptionally supportive, prayerful, and loving; however, nieces Katie and Colleen made Carol’s last days so much easier and love-filled.

Carol would admonish us all to care for the least ones, love one another, and use a semicolon correctly.

PLEASE no flowers (and she means it)!

Donations can be sent to Catherine’s Caring Cause at https://catherinecareschicago.org/ or Almost Home at https://www.almosthomechicago.org/.

Visitation Sunday, July 13, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Funeral Monday, July 14, 2025, 10:00 a.m. from Curley Funeral Home, 6116 W. 111t St., Chicago Ridge, to St. John Fisher Church, 10235 S. Fairfield Ave., Chicago, Mass 11:00 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. For funeral information, call 708-422-2700 or visit www.curleyfuneralhome.com.