Helen Elizabeth Shaker, 90, a longtime resident of River Forest, died on Jan. 15, 2015. She was the last surviving founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Helen Shaker is survived by her children, Anthony (Lucy) Shaker, Joseph (Teresa) Shaker, Catherine (Dr. Robert) Shaker Breit, and John (the late Jacqueline) Shaker; her 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was an aunt and matriarch to many and was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph R. Shaker, and her daughter, Elizabeth Anne Shaker.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 4 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 7750 W. Cermak Road in Forest Park.
A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on March 5 at St. Giles Catholic Church, 1045 Columbian Ave. in Oak Park, followed by private interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
Donations to St. Jude at fundraising.stjude.org/goto/helenshaker are requested by the family in lieu of flowers.
