MADISON — Papal award recipient Winifred Joyce “Winnie” O’Rourke, 90, of Madison, died on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at St. Mary’s Care Center.
She was born on February 25, 1922, in Madison, the daughter of Lawrence and Laura (Fiebiger) Joyce. She graduated from Edgewood High School in 1939 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, completing an associate’s degree and later attended Edgewood College.
Her father started the Joyce Funeral Home with which she was involved and she managed the Joyce Apartments in Madison.
She married Dr. William James O’Rourke in 1947. They had five children who attended Madison Edgewood Campus and High School for a span of 25 years.
She was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority and she maintained longtime membership in a number of organizations, including the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary, the Madison Catholic Woman’s Club and Serra Club, and was a dedicated volunteer for the Apostolate to the Handicapped and Edgewood High School and supported many other organizations.
Pope John Paul II bestowed her the medallion of the Holy Cross (Cross Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice) in 2001 for her outstanding service, dedication, and zeal.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; her sister, Eleanor; and her niece, Penny Buchberger.
Survivors include her five children, Patrick M. (Patricia) O’Rourke, Colleen J. (Dennis Litsheim) O’Rourke, M.D., Timothy B. (Denise) O’Rourke, Kathleen R. (Domenic) Losurdo and Sean D. (Lisa) O’Rourke; and seven grandchildren; and numerous other family and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Madison with Msgr. Donald Heiar Jr., presiding. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery in Madison.
Memorials are preferred to Edgewood High School or to the Dr. William J. O’Rourke Memorial Scholarship Fund at the UW Veterinary School.
To view and sign a guestbook, visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com