Dorene A. Hurckes

Dorene A. Hurckes nee Fitzgerald.

Beloved wife of 53 years of Michael Hurckes.

Loving mother of Alexandra (Alexander) Villanueva, & Jennifer (Ryan) Murphy.

Cherished grandmother of Michael Villanueva, Jane Murphy, & Patrick Murphy.

Dear sister of Kathleen (Roy) Schimmel.

Proud aunt of Heather Brace & Joseph Schimmel.

Funeral Tuesday, December 30th, 9:45 am from Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home, 5570 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn to Our Lady at St. Germaine for Mass at 10:30 am.

Interment Bethania Cemetery.

Visitation Monday, December 29th from 3:30 pm until 8:00 pm.

Dorene spent her life putting others before herself. She started her teaching career in 1971 at St. Barbara Elementary School in Bridgeport where she taught Kindergarten for seventeen years. After receiving her Master’s Degree in Education from St. Xavier University, she became Principal of St. Barbara Elementary School in 1988. Dorene dedicated her teaching and administrative years to the students and families of St. Barbara School often fighting for what was best for the school and parish, volunteering endless hours of her own time outside of a normal work week to strive to keep the school financially stable. In 1995, she graciously accepted a dual Principalship role at both St. Barbara Elementary School and St. Barbara High School until the high school closed in 2001. Dorene continued her service as the Principal of the elementary school until she retired in 2015. She has touched many children’s and families’ lives throughout her forty-four years in education. She always said her fondest memories were in the classroom and even as Principal, she would often drop into classes to help teach, proxy in as a substitute teacher, or just listen in to help support.

After retirement, she turned her focus to her three grandchildren, two of which she watched full time until she no longer could due to health reasons. Her retirement years were spent on being with her grandchildren, watching the Cubs (or the Yankees if Mike had his way), and spending time taking long car rides.