Gerry Hillary Quinn

12/23/1936

10/13/2022

Memorial Contribution: 

Catholic Secondary Schools

or

St. Thomas the Apostle Education Foundation

1449 Wilcox Park Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Gerry Hillary Quinn, age 85, of Grand Rapids, MI., passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, October 13, 2022. She was the second of 10 children born to Louis and Mary Hillary on December 23, 1936. Her parents preceded her in death.

Gerry graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1954, and from Mercy Central School of Nursing in 1956. She married her husband Tom on January 26, 1957. Tom passed away February 21, 2022.

She is survived by her son Thomas, Jr. (Anita), daughter Laura (Andrew Sheridan), daughter Colleen (Robert) Cullison, son John (Rebecca); her grandchildren, Dan (Danielle) Quinn, Karen (Steve) Privasky, Hillary (Trent) Darrow, Jennifer Cullison, Hannah Quinn, Lucy Quinn; and three great grandchildren, Caroline, Allie and Quinn.

Gerry also leaves sister Mary Beth (Den) Ketelaar, sister-in-law Elaine Hillary, and brothers: Don (Carol) Hillary, Dick (Kate) Hillary, Fred (Linda) Hillary, Larry (Arlene) Hillary, Rody (Jeanne) Hillary, and Kelly (Didi) Hillary. She was preceded in death by her brother Louis Hillary and sister JoAnn (Bob) Dunn.

She also leaves two brothers-in-law, Patrick (Rita) Quinn, Michael (Rose) Quinn; and two sisters-in-law, Kathleen Quinn, and Maureen Slade Bryant. She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law Bob and wife Janyce and sister-in-law Noreen and husband Paul Napierela, brothers-in-law Ray Slade, and Charlie Bryant. Gerry had many nieces and nephews.

She loved being a stay-at-home mom, but as her children grew older, she returned to college graduating from Aquinas College in 1983. She continued her education at Michigan State University, receiving her Master’s in Social Work in 1986. She was a Christian Counselor at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and the Samaritan Center of West Michigan.

Gerry and Tom were active and longtime (65 years) members of their parish church of St. Thomas the Apostle. She helped start the Stephen Ministry Program and Hospital Ministry Program and was active for many years. Gerry and Tom taught Natural Family Planning for the Couple-to-Couple League and Pre-Cana classes for St. Thomas Parish.

Gerry loved camping and the beach. She, Tom, and the kids travelled the United States in a pop-up camper, then a RV, and eventually settled into a place on the beach in Grand Haven. She loved to read. Her kids fondly remember crazy adventures seeking out antiques, canoeing to Grand Haven, or walking the beach from Pentwater to Ludington. She loved restoring furniture pieces and doing decoupage.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 17, 2022, 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, 1449 Wilcox Park Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Gerry’s family will greet family and friends on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at O’Brien Gerst Funeral Home, 3980 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546 from 4 to 7 p.m. with Scripture Service at 6:30pm and visitation Monday at church 30 minutes prior to the Mass. Interment is at Resurrection Cemetery. Gerry’s family would like to thank the caregivers at Cascade Trails who treated her like family.

Contributions to Catholic Secondary Schools or St. Thomas the Apostle Education Foundation would be appreciated.

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9 Responses

  1. Your mom sounded like an amazing woman. You and your family are in my prayers.

  2. So very sorry to learn of the passing of your mom Gerry….my condolences. May the memories help lift you up and sustain you. Prayers to you and your family.

  3. Beautiful legacy ????thinking of you and your family during this time. May your faith provide comfort and peace as you honor and remember your wonderful mom. Love, Janeen, Bill, Noah, Connor and Parker

  4. I am so sorry to hear about Aunt Gerry. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad and difficult time.

  5. So sorry. You were lucky to have such a fine mom to love you.
    Betty Gulliver

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