By Staff
NILES – Jacqualyne "Muzzie" Gurk, 86, of Niles, passed away at West Woods Nursing Home in Niles on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.
Jackie was born on May 4, 1923 to the late Daniel and Madge O'Gallagher in Waukegan, Illinois. She was raised by her foster parents Howard and Helen Redding.
Jackie ran O'Gallagher's Answering Exchange from 1966 until 1992, answering phones for nearly every doctor in town, National-Standard, City of Niles, Howard Township Fire Department, Ready Theater, Pifer-Smith Funeral Home and the gas company, among many others. She had more than 85 lines coming in to the house and always kept on top of things.
After the answering service closed in 1992 she worked full time at Lakeland Hospital in Niles as an operator and part time at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home until she fully retired at age 81.
Memorial donations may be made in Jackie's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 2, at Brown Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. with a memorial service at Brown Funeral Home at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 3, with Father William Melody, C.S.C., officiating.
Private burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.