Beverly Ann Brophy

Beverly Ann Brophy (nee Burns) Born at St. Joseph's in Joliet to Wilfred and Velma (Sanders) Burns, Bev lived in Joliet ever after. She graduated from St. Patrick's Grade School, the Academy of St. Francis (1950), St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing (1953), Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital, Jersey City, New Jersey (1955), and received her Bachelor of Science degree from the College of St. Francis in 1980. She was certified as an occupational health nurse in 1986. Bev worked at St. Joseph's Hospital, as supervisor of the post-partum floor, and as a camp nurse for YMCA camps before turning to occupational health nursing. She spent 16 years managing the medical department at Personal Products, a J and J company, retiring in 1995. All along she provided spontaneous health care to family and neighbors, starting in high school, on a Carmel Club field trip, when she provided first aid to a classmate who had stepped on broken glass. Her successful intervention in that case, and a short stay in hospital, where she became fascinated with the medical world, led to her lifelong career. In 1955, Bev married Joliet fireman Robert Emmett Brophy Jr. (deceased). She was mother to Brian (Maureen); Beth (Nick Starcevich); Tim (Rayna), Robert P., and Michael; and grandmother to Erin, Kerry, Meggie and Robert Emmett III Brophy; Brie, Nicholas and Ryan Starcevich; and Danny, Taylar and Braden Brophy; and her loyal friend Claddagh 'Loddie'. Bev believed in service, to her family, her church and the community. 'You can't live for yourself,' she used to say. 'Everything you do can help so much.' She was a member of Holy Family Church, the Irish American Society of County Will, the American Public Health Association, and the Elks Club; and a longtime volunteer at St. Joseph's Hospital Cancer Care, Hospice, Bicentennial Park, the Joliet Historical Museum, the YMCA, and the Rialto Theatre. But the most important part of life to Bev was family, including her step-mother Dorothy Curry Burns and siblings Donna Rae (deceased), Kay (Cavallero), Mary Burns, Tim (Judy) Burns, Judy (Jack) Fordonski, Michele Burns, Pat (Daryl) Walker, Tom(Cynthia)Burns, Jerry (Sally) Burns, and Molly (Mark) Snodgrass. At frequent large family gatherings, Bev was the tireless hostess and cook. She also enjoyed bridge, sewing, and travels to the western states, Canada, and Spain. Funeral from the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home, Monday June 11, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. to Holy Family Parish for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. Visitation Sunday 2-7 p.m. Memorials to Holy Family Catholic Church or Lambs Fold would be appreciated.