Obituary: Kimberly Marie Haggerty

Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory​.

Kimberly Marie Haggerty

(nee Quinlan)

Kimberly Haggerty, 63, of Joliet, Illinois, passed away after years of courageously battling Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, on Sunday, October 18, in a moment she felt most at peace; a moment that so beautifully reflected what mattered most in her life. Kim was comforted by the love of her family that surrounded her, the arms of her children who embraced her, and the familiar voices and sounds of her grandchildren’s laughter she heard filling her room.

Kimberly will be missed, and forever in the hearts of those who survive her. Her children, Brittany (Haggerty) Gutierrez, Brandon Haggerty, and honorary son, Acel Wilson; her mother, Marlou (Del Gatto) Quinlan; her grandchildren, Joseph Cyril, Bailey and Loghan Gutierrez; sisters, Michele (Micki) Ptak and Catherine (Cathy) Pruger; niece, Danielle Pruger; her closest friends, Leann Sexton, Sue Koleno, and V.J.; and her cousins, Angela Carbonaro, Carla Greenup, Dianna Rubino, Mary Karen Coglianese, Lynn Sidlauskas, Kelly and Kathy Quinlan, and Jimmy Camerano. Many other family and friends also survive.

Kim is now reunited with her father, Cyril “Sox” Quinlan; grandparents, Michael “Mick” and Catherine “Kay” Del Gatto, and Cyril and Hermine Quinlan; aunts and uncles, Carl “Corky” and Sherry Del Gatto, Jack, Bill, Tom, Raymond, Jerry, Wally, and Joseph Quinlan, Florence “Flo” Vanderslice, and Beatrice Schaefer; and her dear friend, Mary Jo Lewandowski.

Kimberly was born on February 21, 1963, to Cyril and Marlou Quinlan, in Chicago, IL. Their “Kimmy” was the youngest of 3 girls. She was raised with her sisters in Stickney, IL, where she graduated from Morton West High School. Growing up, Kimmy loved to create artwork, skate, swim, and bowl. By this time in Kimmy’s life, her parents had instilled the value and importance of family, tradition, and travel. She loved her parents so much.

Kim had many passions in her life. She had a great reverence for the arts, which suited her as she was very talented, artistically. Music, drawing, dancing and painting were favorite hobbies. She enjoyed watching and playing sports; namely baseball. She cheered for the White Sox all her life. She liked physical, leisure and group activities; HIIT and dance classes, walking, gardening (she won landscape of the year in a major subdivision- twice), and attending concerts and sporting events.

Kim was a proud, loving Mother, whose children adored her. She never missed an opportunity to chaperone a field trip, or overnight school lock-in. Kim even got a job as the secretary at their school, St. Hugh, in Lyons, IL.

In 1999 she and her children relocated to Romeoville, IL with her parents, and Kim took a supervisor position at the airline ATA. This move and new job allowed for many more vacations each year. Kim and her sisters planned time off each summer to take her kids, and eventually, her grandchild to KiddieLand (until its closing), the water park and panning for gold which she truly enjoyed.

A couple vacations Kim found especially memorable was with Brittany, Brandon, MaryJo and her children, in Nassau, Bahamas. Another was their favorite Thanksgiving where Kim spent the holiday having cheeseburgers, poolside, in Florida, with her children and best friend, Leann. Kimberly was the kind of mom to make an ordinary moment feel like a purely magical one- like her reindeer food, and baby’s breath at Christmas. She was at every after school activity and event. Her sons, Brandon and Acel had her out on the hottest days watching them play ball. Just for Brandon to start football season and do it all again but this time, she’d freeze. She’d drive her daughter, Brittany, to the United Center at least once a week to cheer, and coached her Little League team.

Of all Kim had to be proud of, nothing could compare to the love she had, or compete with the pride she took in her three grandchildren; nothing meant more to her than being their Nana. Fortunately for them, they had the very best. Going to Joey’s hockey games and all their sleepovers, walks in the woods with Bailey and spending hours in her playroom, and playing dolls with Loghan, whom she was so grateful to for all the love and care she gave her when she needed it the most. She loved them all immensely and immeasurably, and they gave her reason and purpose to fight so hard, for so long, because like everything else she did- it was all for them.

Kim’s memory, love, and traditions will live on, day in and day out, year after year, through them.

Kimmy wanted to add, she is so proud of her Mom, and tremendously grateful that her kids have their Gramma, and her grandchildren still have their “Mema”, to get them through this.

Though Alzheimer’s disease takes many things, it can only strengthen the love shared, and impact made on the lives of those around her.

A Memorial Gathering for Kimberly Marie Haggerty will be held on Saturday, November 7, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, IL, from 12:00 p.m. until the time of memorial service at 2:00 p.m.As it was her request, cremation rites have been accorded.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation made to either Alzheimer’s Association, or Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care.

For more information please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.

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