Denise M. Nelligan OBITUARY

Denise M. Nelligan OBITUARY

Denise M. Nelligan 07/06/1938 to 10/21/2026 – Denise passed away peacefully from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 64 years, Brendan T. Nelligan and is survived by her children Mary Ellen, Donna (Dennis) Placke, Ann (Matt) Laboe, and Brendan (Meg); her grandchildren Tom and Ellen Kozie; Joe (Kloee), Brendan and John Placke; Matthew, John, Luke and Mark Laboe; Mary Rose, Nicholas, Michael and James Nelligan; and two great grandchildren; her siblings Richard (Diane) Robin, Ray ( Susan) Robin, and Teree (Jim) Fields; and siblings in law Joe (the late Beatrice) Nelligan, Ann (Don) Beese, Joe Feldman, Carol Robin, Bill (Peggy) Nelligan, Helen Flood and Denise K. Nelligan and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Alfred and Mary Robin, brother Alfred (Jack) Robin, sisters Mary Ellen Feldman and Sally Johnson, parents-in-law Brendan and Helen Nelligan, sister-in-law Mary Therese Nelligan and brothers-in-law Frank Nelligan and Brad Johnson.

Denise grew up in St. Gabriel parish where she was taught by the Mercy nuns and worked in the convent. This began her life-long relationship with the Sisters of Mercy – both as a student at St. Gabriel School, Mercy High School and St. Xavier College, and as a co-worker teaching at St. Garbiel School. It was at Mercy High School that she made the lasting bonds that included a blind date on St. Patrick’s Day 1956 with her future husband Bernie. She continued to gather lifelong friends at St. Xavier College and DePaul University.

Denise had a passion for education, encouraging and assisting her siblings, children, grandchildren and extended family to find the right educational path for them. She remembered her students fondly all of her life.

From 1960 to 1964, Denise worked as a teacher in the Chicago Public School System. She retired to begin raising her family, her children being her greatest life’s work. After several corporate transfers, Denise and Bernie moved their family to Naperville in 1975 where they remained for nearly 50 years. They were active parishioners at St. Raphael Catholic Church where Denise served on the Religious Education Board and the Parish Council. An avid golfer, Denise was a member of the Thursday Springbrook Ladies Golf League beginning in the early 1980s and continuing for almost 40 years. She and Bernie were fortunate to spend 20 good years at their Spring Run home in Estero, FL.

The family is especially grateful to the caregivers and staff at American House, Oak Park for the kind and compassionate care for Denise.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 3:00-8:00 PM at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill Street, Naperville, IL 60540.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 29, 10:30 AM at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1215 Modaff Rd., Naperville, IL, 60540. The funeral mass will be live streamed.

Private Interment: SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Naperville.

Donations in Denise’s memory may be made to: St. Xavier University (SXU) — University Advancement, 3700 West 103rd Street, Chicago, IL 60655, 773-298-3322, https://www.sxu.edu/about/offices/university-advancement/make-gift.html or St. Raphael Catholic Church – Capital Fund Campaign, 1215 Modaff Rd., Naperville, IL, 60540, (630) 355-4545, https://st-raphael.com/campitalcampaign/

For more information, please visit www.friedrich-jones.com or call (630) 355-0213.