Jill McIlroy

Jill Marie McIlroy, age 60, passed from this life on December 08, 2007. Jill is survived by her husband, Richard S. McIlroy; her children Meredith L. M. Zachritz, Richard C. McIlroy and Jill E. McIlroy, her brother John H. Gerken and her mother Mary Helen Gerken. She was predeceased by her father, George H. Gerken.
Jill was born in Chicago, IL and attended college at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, where she met her husband who attended Washington University. After graduating, Jill and Dick were wed and they moved to his home town of Little Rock.
Jill began her career as a speech pathologist with the Little Rock School District. Her career was interrupted with the birth of their first child. She became a stay at home mom. Later she worked part-time as a teacher at St. Mark's Episcopal Day School where she helped mold young lives with a mix of a mother's love and a teacher's skill. Many of her former day school pupils still came up to "Miss Jill" to tell her she was their favorite teacher.
After the children reached school age, Jill went back to work for the school district as a speech pathologist working with special needs children. She was especially fond of working with autistic children, and she was known for her ability to connect with the special children and their parents. She was instrumental in implementing new technologies and computer assisted adaptive devices to assist special children with communications and making their lives fuller.
Although she worked full-time, Jill purposely structured her schedule so she could always be there for her children. She was involved in all their activities from leading the Scout troop and sewing pointe shoes to cheering at the swim meet. She drove carpools thousands of miles over the years and her house became the favorite gathering place of all the kids' friends because of the love she provided in equal measure with firm guidance on making good choices in life.
Jill was a true and faithful wife and mother who always provided support, love and a wonderful home life for her family. She and Dick always kept laughter and love in their marriage of thirty-eight years. She loved to cook, and she especially loved to celebrate the Christmas Holidays with wonderful food and good times spent with family and friends. She loved all animals, especially her chocolate lab, Norman, who was her faithful companion as she endured an extended illness. She also enjoyed water and snow skiing.
Jill was a faithful Catholic who practiced her faith in all areas of her daily life and who inspired others with her gentle and quiet commitment. She was a member of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock by Msgr. Francis Malone. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. A vigil service will be held Monday, December 10, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church with visitation to follow at the parish hall from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 617 Louisiana St., Little Rock, AR 72201 or Arkansas Hospice,.
The family extends a special thank you to Valerie and Brandon Land of Blessings of Hope in Conway, where Jill spent her final fourteen months surrounded by love and gentle care, to our friend and family physician Dr. Jock Cobb, to Dr. Jennifer Co for her loving care and compassion, to all the wonderful nurses at St. Vincent's 3 North and to Arkansas Hospice for helping us through this most difficult time.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), Little Rock (501-224-2200).