Mary Kathryn "Katie" ORourke Whitman Obituary (1927 - 2013)

Mary Kathryn "Katie" ORourke Whitman, 86, of Phoenix, Arizona and formerly of Bloomington, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2013 after a recent illness.Her memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at Holy Trinity Church, Bloomington, with Rev. Jeffrey Windyofficiating. Inurnment will be in St. Marys Cemetery, Bloomington. There will be no visitation. Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, is in charge of local arrangements.In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary Kathryn ORourke Whitman may be made to Illinois Wesleyan University at Illinois Wesleyan University, Attn: Advancement Office, P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900. Her favorite departments were the School of Arts or the Athletic Department. Donations may also be directed to the AZ Chapter of the ALS Association at http://webaz.alsa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AZ_homepage.Katie (Mom, Grandma) was born in Bloomington Illinois January 24, 1927, attended Trinity High School and Illinois Wesleyan University before marrying F. Burton (Burt) Whitman on May 29, 1950. Katie and Burt moved from Bloomington to Phoenix, AZ over 30 years ago, creating a second hub for the Whitman family. Mother of 7, 4 girls and 3 boys, her family was her life and she doted over everyone through her passion of cooking. You could rarely leave her house without food in your hands to take home for later or if you were a newly young adult out on your own, she prepared take-home meals so you would not go hungry. She tutored grandkids near and far, making sure everyone "made the grade". She was at 3 generations of our Baptisms, First Communions, graduations, recitals, plays and our games; she danced at our weddings.She loved to watch sports; golf (Phoenix Open), baseball (Cubs and DBacks), football (Illinois Wesleyan and Notre Dame) and whichever team her family were on. She was the cornerstone of our Christmas Spirit. She will be greatly missed.Katie is survived by her husband of 63 years Burt, her children, Ann (Jim) Brandt, David (Peggy) Whitman, Mary Lou (Jack) Iungerich, Kathy (Bob) Waropay, John (Brenda) Whitman, Jane Whitman, daughter-in-law Colleen, 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.Shewas preceded in death by her youngest son Bob (Boo).