Loretta Anne "Lorie" Schalke (nee Reilly), dearest wife, mother, sister and friend, passed away on April 7, 2023 after a long battle with breast cancer and lymphoma. Her suffering ended, in the presence of her adoring husband of 29 years, Gene, and her sons Jack, Eric and Ben.

Born in Chicago to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur and Patricia Reilly, Lorie is also survived by her brother, 8 sisters and their families: Maureen (the late Daniel) O'Neill, Elizabeth and Robert DiSandro, Mary (the late Jack) Mathisen, Katherine and Thomas McKenna, Patricia and Timothy Maloney, Martin and Dorothy Reilly, Julie and Richard Fadell, Nancy and Charles Ward, and Anne Mannix, as well as her Schalke family: Gene and Carol, David and Deborah, Mark and Margaret.

A warm, honest, gentle soul, Lorie served for the last 12 years as a Sonogram tech at Loyola University Hospital, where she was much loved by coworkers who became wonderful friends.

When she wasn't working, her dreams of travel filled her imagination. As Lorie, Gene and the boys criss-crossed the map on trips around the U.S., her vacations to countries abroad, especially Ireland, kept her excited and always ready to plan her next adventure.

Kind to everyone, charitable to a fault, and unfailingly carrying herself with honor, grace and humor, Lorie was someone who made the world a better place.

Those lucky enough to know her, came away with the sense that their lives were enriched. It was an honor to have been loved by her, and the example she set, continues to guide us.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Cooney Funeral Home located at 625 Busse Hwy. in Park Ridge. Funeral Saturday, prayers at 9:30 a.m. going to St. Mary Catholic Church in Des Plaines for Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment Maryhill Cemetery. For information please call 847-685-1002 or visit www.cooneyfuneralhome.com