Marilyn O'Keefe

Marilyn O’Keefe, 84, of Rockford passed Wednesday, January 17, 2018 in Rockford. Born September 11, 1933, in Rockford, daughter of Frank and Myrtle O’Keefe. She graduated from Muldoon High School. She was employed by National Lock and retired from Greenlee after many years. She was an avid bowler and was in many leagues at Fairview Lanes & Park Lanes as well as attending state and national tournaments. She also loved golf, both participating and as a spectator. She was in the Women’s Business Golf at Sandy Hollow. She loved spending time with friends and family. She was a second mother to her nieces and nephews, always there for moral support. She loved life and the people in her life. Marilyn was always the loving and supportive caregiver of the family. She was at the ready at a moment's notice, without question or judgment to help anyone. Of strangers she just met she was famous for saying, “ I just met the nicest person!” Survived by siblings, Don (Diane) O’Keefe, and Dick O’Keefe, nieces and nephews Mark (Marlene) Broman, Vicki (Bob) Wright, Mike (Carol) O’Keefe, Dan O’Keefe, Diane (Gary) Heslop, Deb (Bernie) Walsh, Sharon (Steve) Hood, Cindy (Roger) Littlejohn, Chuck O’Keefe, Tom (Vanessa) O’Keefe, Frank O’Keefe, Sean (Kate) O’Keefe, Patrick O’Keefe and Anne O’Keefe. She is also survived by several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. Predeceased by brothers, Jack, Jim and Frank O'Keefe, sister Doris Broman, brother in-law Russell Broman, sisters in-law Eula O’Keefe, Carol O’Keefe, Carolyn O’Keefe and Patricia O’Keefe, nephews Jack O’Keefe and Scott Broman, niece Kathleen Howarth.

Funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 22, 2018 at Cathedral of St. Peter. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Burial in St. Mary/St. James Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to St. Peter’s School, 1231 N. Court Street Rockford, Illinois 61103. Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, assisted the family.