CORCORAN, Dr. Teresa -- died 1943

CORCORAN

Posted By: Ia GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 10/16/2011 at 11:31:54

Friend Writes Obituary Of Miss Teresa Corcoran

We are supplied with the following obituary of Dr. Teresa Corcoran, formerly of this community, whose passing on we mentioned in the Herald a week ago. It was written by a friend who knew her best. Here it is:

Teresa Corcoran carved a niche for herself in Chicago's tablet of education and medical service by many years of important and diligent service to all mankind. She was laid to rest in Mt. Carmel cemetery, Chicago, on Saturday, April 17.

She was the first child born to Patrick and Mary Corcoran west of the Mississippi River when they traveled by rail and overland to Waukon, Iowa, and later moved to Postville.

Teresa was one of eleven children born to the Corcorans. She attended the district school and started to teach the winter following her seventeenth birthday. She taught continuously in Iowa and Illinois until 1907. She then became business manager of the West Side Hospital in Chicago and served from 1907 until her retirement in 1938. During her administration as business manager she handled and accounted for more than $10,000,000 for the hospital. Thousands upon thousands of patients were the recipients of her thoughtfulness and business acumen, and like numbers of successful businessmen and artisans, as well as fighting men on all war fronts saw the light of day under conveniences so deftly prepared and arranged by her management.This fact was emphasized in the requim Mass that was sung for her at St. Mary's church in Austin and in the long funeral procession that escorted her remains to their final resting place.

Teresa's father will be remembered as the dry goods merchant who left Pittston, Pa., in 1865, and opened a general store at Waukon. Later he moved his family to the 376 acre farm on the outskirts of Postville.

Her death leaves Dr. Edward A Corcoran of 5720 West Ohio Street, Chicago, her brother and lifelong companion, as the only survivor of this pioneer Iowa family. His eminent position in Chicago and Illinois medical circles, and his illustrious services as a Captain in the Medical Corps in France during World War I makes of him a renowned Chicago figure.

Dr. Corcoran makes a return visit to the hold home community at Postville annually and many of our readers will recall meeting him on these annual pilgrimages.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, hand dated April 1943, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.