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Catherine Gage Marino | Visitation:
Monday, September 20, 2004
3:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Drake and Son Funeral Home
5303 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
Service:
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
10:00 AM
St. Matthias Church
2310 W. Ainslie
Chicago, IL 60625
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| | | Marino, Catherine Gage beloved daughter of Charles and Gay (nee Hastings), loving sister of David (the late Mary Jo) John and James, fond aunt of Matthew, Brian and Joseph, dear niece of Harold (Anne) Downey, fond cousin of Tom (Tammy) Downey and Jeff (Carol) Downey, cherished granddaughter of the late Matthew Marino, Angela Stasio and Edward (Jean) Hastings. Librarian at St. Scholastica Academy, graduate of Regina High School, Hope College with a B.A. in Art, Dominican University with a Masters in Library Science and North Park College with a Teachers Certificate. Funeral 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, from Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western for a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Matthias Church. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation 3 to 9 p.m., Monday. Donations in Memory of Gage may be made to St. Scholastica Academy Library Fund, 7416 North Ridge, Chicago, IL, 60645. Arrangements by: Pfaff-Garner-Adinamis Funeral Home. Info: 773-561-6874 or www.pgfuneral.com
St. Scholastica
GAGE MARINO
A Talented and
Independent Woman
Born on June 8, 1969, Gage was the fourth child and only daughter of the loving marriage of Charles and Gay Marino. Her older brothers, David, John and James welcomed her immediately and became her ardent protectors.
At age five, Gage was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. This is a very serious illness which, at the time, had few survivors. Gage underwent treatment at Children’s Memorial Hospital for a period of three years. The treatment was successful and she went into a permanent remission. Gage’s immune system was greatly depressed and a few months after being diagnosed she developed pneumocystis carinii, an often fatal lung disease. She was on a ventilator for ten days receiving at one point 90% oxygen when she turned the corner and began to recover. This was considered a miracle by many including her parents - a miracle that was to last for 29 years.
The cancer treatment left Gage relatively unscathed except for her diminutive size.
When she reached adulthood, Gage was four foot eight inches and 85 pounds. She was later described by her cardiologist, Dr. Neil Stone, as “small but mighty” and, indeed, she was. In her senior year at Regina High School, Gage traveled to the Philmont Scout High Adventure Base in Cimmaron, New Mexico with her brothers John and James. They embarked on an eleven day back packing trip over the Sangre de Christo Mountains. She endured thunderstorms, hail and most adverse terrain, but successfully completed the trip and even scaled Mt. Philips an 11,700 foot peak.
Gage’s greatest love was her Mom, Dad and brothers to whom she was a precious treasure. She was blessed with her Mother’s good looks and strength, but also had her father’s patience and endurance. Gage was very smart and an excellent student. In school, Gage strove for A’s, but when a course was exceptionally challenging, she would settle for a B.
Gage was quiet and unassuming and many people who came into contact with her were unaware of her many talents and achievements. From an early age, Gage was a very talented artist. While in grade school and high school, she took private art lessons and produced numerous oil paintings, water colors, pencil sketches and other works of art.
After graduating from Regina High School in 1987, Gage entered Hope College majoring in Art and graduated four years later with a B.A. While at Hope College, Gage honed her painting skills and embarked on several other forms of art including sculpture and ceramics. She then enrolled at the American Academy of Art and, while there, took every computer graphics course offered. But that was not enough. Next, Gage received a scholarship to the Art Institute where she specialized in scientific illustration and fashion illustration.
Armed with an impressive portfolio, Gage then began searching for employment in the commercial art field. This proved to be extremely frustrating. Her portfolio would get her interviews, but the interviews would not lead to job offers. Gage was quiet and a bit shy and simply not aggressive enough for this highly competitive field.
Gage took a job offer from her father and brother, David, for a secretarial position in their law office. She was very proficient typing up legal documents on the computer. But, this was not a position which suited her abilities. Forging ahead, Gage went to a career counselor and, after taking a battery of aptitude and other tests, was advised that she should look into library science.
Following that suggestion, Gage entered Rosary College (now Dominican University) and, while working part-time, graduated with a Masters Degree in Library Science in 1997. Gage was prepared to again search for employment, but this time as a librarian. After working part-time at the Ida Crown School and the Lincolnwood Library, Gage was offered the position of librarian at St. Scholastica Academy. Initially, Gage was trepidatious about stepping into such a responsible position with so little experience. However, Gage was embraced by the then assistant in the library, Doris, who had many years of experience. Doris graciously offered Gage the guidance which she needed to succeed in her new position. A few years later Doris passed away after a long battle with cancer. Gage was heartbroken. She had lost her good friend and her valued mentor.
With encouragement from the then principal of St. Scholastica Academy, Gage pursued a teaching certificate in Art (kindergarten through grade 12). While continuing to work as the librarian at St. Scholastica Academy, she entered the teaching certification program at North Park University. Much to her dismay, Gage learned that, in addition to 32 credit hours of education courses, she also needed 30 credit hours of general courses because her college courses did not match the courses then required for teaching certification. Undeterred, Gage forged ahead taking 62 credit hours of education and general courses. She successfully completed her student teaching at the Prairie Grade School in Skokie and St. Scholastica Academy and passed the State examination.
Gage continued painting and, when she heard John was planning a trip to Nepal to climb Ama Dablam, a 23,000 foot peak close to Mount Everest, she painted the Canadian Maple Leaf on his climbing helmet and the Tibetan flag with the words “Free Tibet” on his friend Thondu’s climbing helmet.
Gage also had a sense of adventure and, while not up to another mountain climb, she traveled to many destinations in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, France and Spain, taking hundreds of photographs of old world architectural treasures.
Next, Gage’s artistic bent took her into jewelry making courses which she enjoyed immensely. She was soon producing earrings, bracelets and pins made from silver, copper, brass and other materials. Gage entered a juried art exhibit and was selected to show her jewelry at the Evanston Art Center this past December. Much to her delight, several of her earrings, bracelets and pins found buyers.
Gage was also a talented, largely self-taught seamstress. She made clothes for her friends and their children as well as herself. This past Christmas, Gage gave her brother James a beautiful quilt which she spent a year in the making. He will treasure it forever.
After College, Gage resided with her Mom and Dad for many years. But, while she loved them dearly and they tried not to impinge on her personal life, Gage was ready to become an independent woman with a place of her own. For most of the year 2000, Gage and her Dad scouted the north side of Chicago and Evanston for condominiums being offered for sale. Her Mom supported her wish to have a place of her own, but allowed Gage to make the search with her Dad. This was a time of great bonding between Gage and her Dad as they spent nearly every weekend scanning advertisements and looking at available condominiums. At last, Gage found a condominium in Evanston that met most of her criteria and was in her price range. Her Mom got involved in the furnishing and decorating. In mid-2001, Gage moved into her own place.
Gage had a love of cats which was second only to her love of art and had taken in two kittens born in a neighbor’s garage. She named them Puck and Koko after characters in Midsummer’s Night’s Dream and they went with her to the condominium. Quite coincidentally, directly across the hall from Gage’s unit was a young woman, Iris, who also was an artist and loved cats. Very quickly, Gage and Iris became best of friends and together enjoyed many visits, dinners and outings. Craig then entered Iris’ life and while it is said that “three is a crowd”, that was not the case with Iris, Craig and Gage. They meshed beautifully and enjoyed each others company immensely.
Gage adored David’s three sons, Matthew, Brian and Joey, and delighted in having them visit with her and sleep over. She took them to bookstores and exposed them to the joys of reading.
Gage had a host of fine personal qualities and attributes - a beautiful smile, an engaging giggle and the most expressive eyes. She had a generous heart and always extended a helping hand. No doubt, because of her life experiences, Gage was deeply compassionate for those less fortunate and patient in the face of adversity.
Gage suffered a stroke on January 27, 2004 following surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The stroke was severe and she completely lost her speech and the use of her right arm and right leg. John and James immediately flew home from Albuquerque to help in any way they could. David joined in and Gage had round-the-clock support from her parents and brothers. She was not fighting this battle alone. John took a leave of absence from his employment for a year.
Following the stroke, Gage had to combat brain swelling and pneumonia. She did so successfully and, after a five week hospitalization, was transferred to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Ten days later, she returned to the hospital for another five weeks while undergoing an angioplasty to remove a heart blockage and other treatment. Gage then went back to the Rehabilitation Institute where she began the process of rebuilding her speech and regaining the use of her right leg and right arm. By the time she went home with her Mom and Dad on May 25th, she was speaking in phrases, eating table food and beginning to walk with assistance holding onto a railing with her left hand.
While at home, her 35th birthday was celebrated with a family cookout attended by many of her friends. Liz from high school and Keith from college were there with their three young children. They had connected with each other through Gage and she stood up at their wedding. Keith and Liz gave her a beautiful book of memories with photos and messages sent by her many friends from high school and college.
Gage was cared for at her parent’s home for eight weeks with her brother John as her primary caregiver assisted by a home health care nurse, certified nurses aides, and physical, occupational and speech therapists. With John’s encouragement, Gage began speaking in sentences and walking with a cane. With assistance, she went up and down stairs and using her left hand, she was able to eat without help and start to write and draw. Gage’s comprehension was unaltered. She understood everything.
None of this was easy. It was hard and, at times, terribly hard. But, Gage would not give up. On July 19th, Gage was scheduled to start a 10 week session of day rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Institute facility located in the former Ravenswood Hospital.
But, once again Gage was challenged by a serious illness. On the day before starting day rehabilitation, Gage’s parents noticed that she was breathing fast after doing her walking exercise and took her to the emergency unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Once there, she was diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which is an often fatal inflammation of the lungs. There is no treatment other than placing the patient on a ventilator and allowing the inflammation to subside and healing to occur. Often, this takes months.
After several weeks on the ventilator, Gage began responding and she was slowly being weaned from the ventilator. It appeared that she was once again going to slip through the eye of the needle. But suddenly, in the afternoon of September 16th, Gage’s heart gave out and she passed peacefully into our Lord’s heavenly kingdom to take her rightful place along with her beloved grandparents, her Dad’s brother, Matty, and David’s dear wife, Mary Jo. Once again, she is surrounded by loving family.
Gage loved our Lord, Jesus Christ, and knew the power of the Holy Spirit. She had experienced it in person many times in her 35 years. She was sustained by a hope she never lost. Gage’s hope was to live on in this world with her family and friends who loved her so dearly. But God, in all his wisdom, knew that she had endured enough and that she had earned the right to a better life in a place which knows no pain and no suffering.
Gage wishes to thank the many physicians, nurses, therapists and caregivers who attended to her. She wishes to thank the many family members and friends who constantly offered prayers for her recovery and from whom she received flowers, gifts, cards and loving thoughts, messages and visits. Special thanks to Iris, Craig, Heather, Julie, Debbie, Ronnie, Samantha, Liz, Keith, Amy, Cale, Mike, Jerry, Marcie, Lorraine, Ted, Jim, Paulita, Anne, Harold, Tom, Tammy, Jeff and Carol.
Gage wishes to thank her Mom and Dad and brothers, David, John and James. They were her five pillars who stayed with her every day and night for the last eight months. Whether she was awake or asleep one of them was at her bedside or nearby. She was never alone. Every evening they gathered around her bed to pray and bless her with the oil of St. Walburg given to her by the Nuns at St. Scholastica.
Life presented Gage with many challenges. She dealt with these challenges with great courage and bravery. Gage was a true heroine. John’s friend Thondu, with whom he climbed Ama Dablam, referred to Gage as the “woman warrior” in a note which he sent Gage with the Tibetan prayer flags which hung over her bed at the hospital and home. Her courage and bravery will inspire all who hear of it. Her artistic talents will again emerge in the Marino/Hastings family line.
Gage will always live on in the hearts of all of us. Whenever you think life has become a little to difficult, think “if Gage could do it, I can do it.”
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