Chicagoans lost a friend this Thanksgiving. She was buried on Monday, and left a legacy of goodwill, courage and grace in a city filled with plantings where cement once grew, with a renewed center for culture inside the forgotten walls of a magnificent library that will likely soon carry her name. There are the programs for disadvantaged children, an appreciation for the arts that brought much to the City of Chicago and a respect for her husband’s call to service as mayor – as long as it wasn’t on Sunday.
Chicago and its surrounding areas lost a friend in Maggie Daley’s passing.
I was only able to watch a small part of the telecast this morning. The procession leaving the Chicago Cultural Center slowly motored through the streets of Chicago to Old St. Pat’s Church, one of the few buildings which survived the Great Chicago Fire. Family arrived, then the Shannon Rovers, piping the hearse to the church.
I watched as the coffin was carried up the steps of Old St. Pat’s and the bagpipes played. It took me a few moments to recognize the song. It brought me to tears, that old Irish tune, Maggie. Between sobs I thought, how fitting. How fitting, indeed.
Rest in peace, Maggie Daley. Rest in peace.
Just look at that beautiful smile. You can see her inner light shine, can’t you? This is a touching tribute, Penny. How appropriate to have her name on a library. When you think of the number of “Daley men” who have been Chicago power brokers it is touching to think that Maggie will indeed be remembered not for power, but for “goodwill, courage and grace.” The pipes would have brought me to tears, too! Debra
She did much good for the City of Chicago, Debra, all quietly behind the scenes and she gave so many cancer survivors hope in her struggle while always wearing that smile. The pipes, ah the pipes, they choked me up – always do.
How sad to lose someone who did so much good for her city. She looks so vibrant and lovely in the photo you posted.
She always looked this way, Juliet, and brought such dignity to the city in so many ways. Michigan Ave., dubbed the Magnificent Mile, is lined each year with Tulipa Maggie Daley. A sea of pink.
Simply a lovely tribute, Penny.
Thank you, Karen.
PENNY:
My sentiments as well. i was so touched by her presence in Chicago and all of the things she did for this wonderful city. I have read everything about her that I have seen over the past two weeks and was sad of her passing. She has left a legacy to be sure. So dear of you to verbalize it to others. Beautifully done.
Thank you, Mary Anne. I thought it was the least I could do to celebrate a life well lived and an example to all.
What a wonderful face, and a sad loss to the city. I can sense what a beacon of light this woman must have been to you all, Penny. Hers sounds like a life to celebrate.
Isn’t it lovely, Kate? Hers was a life to celebrate.
A beautiful tribute, Penny. It’s so sad for us and I can’t imagine Richie Daley facing retirement without her.
I found it so sad, Janet, and a small thing to do. She certainly made Chicago a richer place to be, and did it so eloquently. Theirs seemed to be a genuine love story.
By the way, thanks for the great link to “Maggie”! I love that song and nobody belts it out like Maura O’Connell!
You’re welcome and I agree (though Arranmore does it pretty good). I’ll never forget seeing her at Hammerschmidt Chapel and her singing this quite a few years ago. I’d love to see her again. Oh well . . .
Dear Penny,
Thank you for posting Maggie Daley’s photograph with your tribute. Not being from Chicago or Illinois, I really had never heard of her. But both your eulogy and the comments brought home to me just what a lovely woman she was–rich in heart and soul. The YouTube song was so melodic. I’d never heard it before either. Thank you for this enlightenment.
Peace.
You have it correct, Dee. She was “rich in heart and soul” and did a great deal of good for children and culture in the city and was instrumental in making it so beautiful to visit.
I’m pleased you listened to the song, “Maggie”. It is an old Irish tune and I love this performer, Maura O’Connell, and her rendition of it.
You are most welcome, Dee.
Such a lovely lady will be a great loss for your city.
She will, indeed, Marilyn.