Ellen T. O'Brien Schmack

Ellen Therese O’Brien Schmack, nee O’Brien, 57, of Chicago passed away Friday, May 13, 2016 at Oakridge Gardens Rehabilitation Center in Menasha, WI. Born in Chicago on Tuesday, April 7, 1959 to Joseph (deceased) and Ruth (nee Zimmerman) O’Brien (deceased); Close daughter-in-law to Hosst “Dutch” (deceased) and Josephine (nee Brice) Schmack (deceased); Darling former wife of Michael Joseph Schmack Sr. (deceased); Devoted mother of Michael and Matthew Schmack; Loyal adopted mother of Gina Corrao, Adam Tufano, Alejandro Ruiz, Orlando Ruiz, Curtis Calvert, Jessica (Ball) Mueller, Edward Kempinski, Matthew Dougherty, Steven Eichler, Matthew Campbell, Sean Goldman, Zack Nolfi, Kyle Petros, Jay Hidalgo, Linda Barrientos, Tyler Dolph, Anne (Schuenke) Dolph, Mike Warren, Jake Colbert; Beloved sister of Mary (O’Brien) Foster, Terry O’Brien (deceased), Peggy (O’Brien) Steiner, John O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, and Nora O’Brien; Faithful sister-in law of Paul Foster, Terry (Shaughnessy) O’Brien, Bill Steiner, Deanna (Tomaras) O’Brien, Christine Meldrum, Bart O’Malley (deceased) and Jo-Anne (Schmack) O’Malley, Bob and Mary (Olichwier) Schmack; Adored aunt to Carrie Berg, Liz Berg, Joey Steiner, Gordon O’Brien, Brian Schmack, and Amy (Schmack) Klehr; a loving and great friend to so, so many.

Ellen was born and raised in Chicago, and loved everything about it from the sports teams to the food to the overall atmosphere of the Windy City. She lived in many different neighborhoods in the city, until residing for many years in the Avondale, Portage Park, Montclair, Jefferson Park, and Dunning locations respectively. Ellen would eventually go on to receive her Associate’s Degree in Radiology from the highly renowned Radiology department at Wilbur Wright College in 1995. She would receive several accreditations and awards for her numerous years and dedicated time in the Radiology and Mammography fields.

In later years, she would proceed to become a champion volunteer and contributor to any and all events, benefiting Breast Cancer Research and all victims involved. There was never a task too big or issue too cumbersome for Ellen to overcome to be there for those in her life that she loved. In addition to her love of the Bears, Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks, she was an avid WWE professional wrestling fan, and would occasionally be heard yelling at the wrestlers on the screen almost as much as she yelled at her beloved Bears, Cubs, Bulls and Hawks. While home with her sons when they were just born, and as the years went on, you couldn’t help but hear the sounds of U2 or Bruce Springsteen being blared for everyone to hear.

Her love of her two sons, Michael and Matthew, knew no bounds, and she would, and countless times did, move mountains and the world for them to have the life that she so richly felt they deserved. Throughout the years, Ellen took in so many of Michael and Matthew’s friends as if they were her own sons and daughters, something that these now grown men and women have never and will never forget.

To remember Ellen in the way she deserves to be remembered, is to honor her, her incredible legacy, and the endless amount of love that she leaves on this Earth, now and forever.

Please join us at Ellen’s Memorial Party to be held at Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home, 6901 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60634 on Friday, June 24, 2016, from 3pm until 9pm.