Mollie Megan Quirke

Mollie Megan (MacDonald) Quirke, age 48, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She is now at rest in the loving arms of God, free from pain and suffering.

Mollie was born on November 12, 1977, in Maryville, Illinois, and was raised nearby in Edwardsville. She was the beloved daughter of Robert Harold MacDonald and Denise Inez MacDonald, who both preceded her in death—her father in 2022 and her mother in December of this year, just one month before Mollie’s passing.

At a young age, Mollie’s parents discovered that she had natural and god-given athleticism and subsequently enrolled her in the Mid-Illinois Jets Gymnastics Academy. Throughout her childhood, she demonstrated extraordinary discipline and determination in training to be an elite-level gymnast. She earned countless accolades including multiple Illinois state championships which brought great pride to her family and especially her father, who took it upon himself to build her a full gymnastics gym in a pole barn on their rural property. Later on, she used her talents to lead the cheerleading team at Edwardsville High School where her individual gymnastics abilities were a focal point for the team, which won many awards.

Mollie attended college at Southern Illinois University where she made incredible life-long friendships which she maintains to this day. She went on to earn her masters degree in Sports Health Care from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in 2001 and began her professional life as assistant athletic trainer and rehab coordinator at Washington University in St. Louis. She transitioned into pharmaceutical sales with Eli Lilly in 2003 which took her to Cleveland, OH for the next 8 years. She lived downtown in Ohio city and enjoyed many memories with a tight-knit group of loyal friends, often training for marathons in her free time. Following her tenure at Eli Lilly, she joined Medtronic in 2007 and worked for many years with a wonderful team of people that she held in the highest regard. She followed her career with Medtronic to Raleigh, NC in 2011 and met her husband Dale Quirke shortly thereafter.

In Raleigh, she continued to enjoy working with her team at Medtronic and also became a founder and owner of 12th State CrossFit, where she was instrumental in defining the mission and values that have guided the gym for the past 10+ years. She poured her heart into building a community with a primary mission to make people stronger, more confident, and better equipped to handle the challenges of their lives. She relished the opportunity to use her athletic background and organizational skills to recruit and lead a remarkable group of coaches and athletes over the years. Her lasting impact is embedded in the ethos of an institution that has changed many lives. But more than anything, it was her happy place — she spent countless mornings there working out with her crew of fitness friends, whom she loved dearly. Her favorite date night was an after hours weightlifting session there with her husband, followed by a casual dinner in sweaty gym clothes.

Mollie loved to travel and be outside in nature whenever possible. Many of her most cherished memories were made exploring new places with her friends and family. She was comfortable and at peace for miles and miles with a hiking pack on her back and a child in her arms. She was a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews and always willing to jump in the fray at our chaotic summer cousin trips, the favorite week of the year for them. Her most recent adventure was traveling with her family to Boyaca, Colombia just a few months ago. She was able to attend the wedding of her honorary daughter Maria Fernanda Torres Medina, and explored the mountains and coast of Colombia afterwards. It would be the last time she took a trip feeling so carefree.

Above all, Mollie was a devoted wife and mother. She shared a loving marriage with her husband Dale and was the proud and deeply involved mother of Carter (10) and Patrick (8). She was present in all aspects of her children’s lives—loving her time as a volunteer at St. Timothy’s School and as a dedicated team mom and assistant coach to her husband at the kids’ many sporting activities, especially West Raleigh Baseball. She spent hours and hours at home teaching them, reading books to them, and engaging them with fun and meaningful activities. Raising her children was her greatest joy and a source of immense pride. Her daughter, Carter, inherited her mom’s sweet and caring nature, intelligence, maturity, and wisdom beyond her years. Her son, Patrick, inherited her adventurous spirit, unshakeable confidence, goofy sense of humor, and athleticism. Mollie’s memory lives on in those characteristics and traits that are so obviously apparent in her children. In her final days, her only requests of her husband centered around the welfare of her children. She was devastated to not see them grow up, but was also reassured by the wonderful family and community that will surround them in her absence.

Mollie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on a pregnancy ultrasound with her son Patrick in 2017, and she liked to say that her little boy saved her life due to early detection. She faced the next eight years with remarkable faith, strength, and grace — living her life without fear and making every effort to not allow her illness to define her. She did not talk about her struggles, opting instead to focus on the joy of each day and being present in the moment. Her chemotherapy sessions were marked only by her quiet 3 or 4 day absence from the gym, before she willed herself back at the first opportunity. As her body began to fail, her trust in Jesus Christ as her savior only deepened. She found great peace in reading scripture, often led an early morning fitness devotional at the gym, and was a faithful member of the Summit Church here in Raleigh.

In early October 2025, she developed a serious complication from her cancer while hiking in Sedona with close friends, and was hospitalized there in critical condition. After stabilization, she was eventually able to return home to North Carolina. Unfortunately, there were no clear options left for treatment and she made the decision to enter hospice care at home rather than live out her final days in the hospital. Even then, she remained steadfast in faith and surrounded by love. Her strength and resilience allowed her to live for an additional 3 months when only days or weeks were expected. She cherished the opportunity to reflect on her life with clarity, and was blessed to be able to say all of the things she needed to say to the people that she loved. She passed away peacefully, mercifully, and without regret at home in the arms of her husband, as per her clearly stated wishes.

Mollie will be remembered as a fierce competitor, an intelligent and beautiful soul, a kind and generous friend, and an inspiration to others through her faith despite tremendous adversity. Though her absence is deeply felt, her family takes comfort in knowing that she is now whole, healed, and at peace. Her legacy lives on through the gifts of her children, the friends she touched, the community she built, the love she gave so freely, and most importantly her faith and trust in God.

Mollie was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Denise; her beloved Aunt Lori; her grandparents Loren and Frances Cantrall and Robert and Wilma MacDonald. Mollie’s courage, tenacity, and grit were inherited from her family. Her maternal grandfather, Loren Cantrall, was a decorated WWII veteran and recipient of the Silver Star for his heroic actions to save the lives of fellow soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge. Her paternal grandfather, Robert MacDonald, was also a WWII veteran and combat fighter pilot who died at 38 years old while flying a mission during active service.

Mollie is survived by her husband Dale, daughter Carter (10) and son Patrick (8); her brother Alec MacDonald whom she loved and admired greatly; brothers-in-law Matthew Quirke, Timothy Quirke, and Brandon Quirke; sisters-in-law Amanda Quirke Hand, Jess Quirke, and Jolene Quirke. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews: McCoy and Brooklyn Hand; Grant, Colt, Joey, Carla, and Becca Quirke; and Duncan, Ceridwen, Max, Elijah, and Rowena MacDonald, all of whom she loved dearly. She is further survived by her aunts and uncles, Todd and Tracye Cantrall, Mark Cantrall, Kurt and Debbie Taraba, and Patty (MacDonald) Warren; and mother-in-law Patty Quirke.

Memorial Weekend Schedule:

Visitation/Wake

Friday, January 16 th

Family will receive friends and loved ones

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Location: Brown-Wynne Funeral Home 1701 E. Millbrook Rd. Raleigh, NC

Memorial Service

Saturday January 17th

10:00 AM

Location: Summit Blue Ridge: 3249 Blue Ridge Rd. Raleigh, NC

Graveside Service/Interment

Saturday January 17th

12:30 PM

Location: Oakwood Cemetery: 701 Oakwood Avenue Raleigh, NC

Sunday January 18th

12:30 PM

Memorial Workout in Mollie’s honor

Location: 12th State CrossFit 807 Hodges St. Raleigh, NC

In lieu of flowers, Mollie suggests donations be made to the Mucinous Ovarian Cancer Coalition, which seeks to fund research for treatment of this rare but aggressive cancer:

https://donorbox.org/hope-for-mucinous-ovarian-cancer