Nicoline M. Shields (nee Murphy), 82, of Park Place in Elmhurst and a former longtime resident of Riverside, died peacefully on Sept. 19, 2021.
Ms. Shields was born April 9, 1939 and grew up on the South Side of Chicago as the only girl in the family with four brothers. She attended St. Dorothy’s and Little Flower Catholic grammar schools, the Academy of Our Lady high school, the Little Company of Mary Nursing School and DePaul University.
She was a registered nurse specializing in surgery and the operating room. She practiced nursing in several area hospitals having held the positions of operating room supervisor, head nurse in surgery and related positions. She also practiced for a short time at Baylor University in Houston, working with Dr. Michael DeBakey on early heart transplant surgery.
While raising her family in Riverside, she was active in a variety of community activities including St. Mary Catholic Parish, the Olmsted Society and the Riverside Historical Museum.
She devoted a great deal of her spare time to Lyric Opera of Chicago, having served as president of the Riverside Chapter, organized and promoted additional Opera chapters in surrounding communities, chaired Lyric Opera’s Operathon for several years and eventually became president of the Chapters’ Executive Board of Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Her nursing training gave her solid organizational and managerial skills that enabled her to organize and motivate community groups (such as the Riverside Dancing Club, local ski clubs, bowling leagues, house walks, and the Brookfield Zoo) to achieve their goals. She loved to organize and lead marketing and development activities and was a successful event planner with Blue Plate Catering.
Ms. Shields was the wife of 47 years of Thomas C. Shields; the mother of Thomas J. (Kimberly) Shields, Nicoline M. (Trevor) Shoffer, Suzanne A. (Simon) Browne and Kerry A. (C. Michael) Foley; the grandmother of Conor James Shields, Henry Aloysius Shoffer, Sarai Isabella, Genevieve Adele and Abel Cooper Browne and Charles Michael Jr. and Ford Thomas Foley.
She was preceded in death by her brothers Howard, Gilbert, Melvin and Vincent (Joan) Murphy. She was an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. Her extended family and many friends will surely miss her charming smile, sparkling eyes and quick wit.
Donations in her memory to favorite charities would be appreciated, especially The Courage Program at St. Germain Parish, 9711 S. Kolin Ave., Oak Lawn, 60453; Cancer Research Foundation (of which Tom is a trustee), 3354 N. Paulina St., Suite 208, Chicago, 60657; and Parkinson’s Research Foundation, P.O. Box 96318, Washington, D.C., 20090.
A memorial visitation will be held Saturday, Oct. 16 at St. Mary Church, 126 Herrick Road, Riverside, from 9 a.m. until time of memorial Mass 11 a.m. (the mass will be live streamed at youtu.be/0KbB9kVU-u4. Interment private.
Arrangements entrusted to The Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko, funeral director.
