Dr. Marjorie 'Marge' Joy, Former Oak Lawn Trustee, Dies at 82

OAK LAWN, IL — Dr. Marjorie Ann Joy (Courney), better known as Marge to colleagues, friends and the residents she served as an elected official in Oak Lawn, died July 2 surrounded by her family. She was 82.

Joy spent a life in service to children, her community and God. She was a 54-resident of Oak Lawn, where she and her husband, Edward, raised four children.

She taught in Chicago Public Schools for 40 years, beginning her career in education at Mark Sheridan School, now a math and science academy. Joy served as principal at Richard Henry Lee School from 1984-2006 in the West Lawn neighborhood. Throughout her career she received many awards that exemplify her dedication, including the 1992 Distinguished Service Award Aquin Guild for incorporating Catholic principles in public school education; 1990 Whitman Award for Excellence in Educational Management and the 1997 School Leadership Award for Outstanding Principals; the Apple Award and many others. Perhaps her biggest honor was the renaming of a street — Marjorie Joy Way — when she retired from Lee School.

When she was 66, Joy earned her doctorate in education in 2005 from Loyola University. She used her experience and education to serve as an adjunct professor to Dominican University-River Forest “Teach for America” program. Her accolades occurred as a result of her dedication to the students, community, and school, including the faculty.

Despite the demands of family and a demanding career, Joy was ac elected park district official from 1975 to 1991, and served as the fifth district trustee on the Oak Lawn Village Board from 1992 to 2008. She helped support economic development, protected the neighborhood through obtaining the highest rating for Oak Lawn’s fire department and outstanding rating for the police department. Joy also served the senior community.

She had a strong altruistic spirit for children, serving on school boards and the building of the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. In 2015. Joy was honored with the museum's prestigious Soaring Spirit Award. To Joy, one of the most rewarding parts of her position at the museum was seeing the happiness of the community’s children. She believed the people she’s met along the way have truly benefited her life.

“The people who run the Museum day by day teach me things every time I see them,” Joy said. “I’ve learned so much. Learning is a lifetime experience. It just doesn’t end when we’re done with school."

She also served on the house council for another favorite charity, the Ronald McDonald House near Advocate Children’s Hospital.

Joy was a devout Catholic. She believed in the power of daily prayer, Guardian Angels, and helping those in need. As a member of St. Linus Catholic Church she served as a Eucharistic minister, a crisis counselor after earning a master’s in guidance and counseling, and volunteered weekly at the Adoration Chapel.

The Honorable Daniel Lipinski recognized Joy in the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Record in June 2006. Her favorite poem was Robert Frost’s “The Road Less Taken” and loved “A Parable for Mothers” by Temple Bailey.

Joy leaves her husband of 56 years, Edward; four children Daniel (Amy), Edward (Andrea), Kevin (Nicole) and Anne Marie Heiar (Tim) ;and 12 grandchildren- Matthew, Megan, Brendan, Emmitt, Nolan, Ryan, Logan, Gavin, Keegan, Maggie, Riley, and Ellie, her brother John Courney (Mary Lou). She is preceded in Heaven by her father Raymond Courney, mother Catherine “Fluffy” (Mulcahy) and brother Raymond Courney (Karen).

Visitation for Dr. Marjorie Joy will takae place from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 5, at Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home, 5570 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn.

The funeral will begin at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, July 6, at Thompson & Kuenster to St. Linus Church, 10300 S. Lawler Ave., Oak Lawn, for an 11 a.m. Mass.

Source: Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home