Michael J. O'Grady

Michael J. O’Grady, 91, of Chicago, passed away from heart failure on April 9. Beloved husband of the late Catherine (Hyland) O’Grady. Loving father of Michael (Jennifer) O’Grady, James (Lisa) O’Grady, Noreen O’Grady and Kathy (Michael) Hennessey. Native of Carroweena, Killasser, Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland. Mike was fun-loving, gregarious and the life of every party. He had a strong work ethic, often working two or three jobs. He was employed 45 years as a stationary engineer with the Chicago Board of Education, with his final assignment at Schurz High School. Mike also was a skilled butcher who worked at High-Low Foods, Happy Foods and Thompson’s. He was proud of his service in the Army, during which he fought courageously in some of the deadliest battles of the Korean War. He loved playing the slots in Las Vegas and Midwestern casinos, sometimes while enjoying a Cosmopolitan cocktail. A powerfully built man and dedicated weightlifter into his 80s, Mike volunteered to do general construction to build the Irish American Heritage Center in its early years. Devoted brother of Sara O’Grady and proud grandfather of Katie, Abbey, Eamonn, Delaney and Shannon O’Grady and Liam Hennessey. He was predeceased by his parents Mary (Conlon) and Francis O’Grady; wife Catherine; infant daughter Gael Marie O'Grady; sisters Winnie McGowan, Bridget “Tessie” Burke and Margaret “Peggy” O’Donnell, and brothers Patrick “Pake,” Tom and the Rev. James O’Grady. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 21 from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Cooney Funeral Home at 625 Busse Hwy., Park Ridge. Funeral Mass is Thursday, April 22 at 10 a.m. at St. Juliana Church, 7201 N Oketo Ave., Chicago. A livestream of the Mass can be viewed at https://youtu.be/BV4oGOPPmCc. Interment All Saints Cemetery. Memorial donations appreciated for the Lucky Fin Project, 1320 North Vermont Ave., Royal Oak, MI 48067, or Semper Fi & America’s Fund, https://semperfifund.org/donate/. For information please call 847-685-1002 or visit www.cooneyfuneralhome.com.

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