Elaine Claire Erickson (1927-2022)

ERICKSON, CARLSON, DESMET, COLLINS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/17/2022 at 12:55:33

Elaine Claire Quilty, age 95, of Moline passed away at home on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 after suffering a stroke June 4, 2021.

Funeral Services will be 11 AM Tuesday July 19, 2022 at Rafferty Funeral Home, Moline, with burial to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery East Moline. Visitation will be an hour before the services.

The former Elaine Claire Erickson was born in Moline, May 29th 1927, and was the daughter of Everett Erickson (1903-1983) and Margaret DeSmet (1907-1998). She had a sister Mary Ann (Pete) Carlson (1941-2001).

Elaine was born Clara DeSmet the natural daughter of Claude Clifford (1900-1962). She was baptized Helen Clara DeSmet later that same year. Her name was later changed to Elaine Erickson, and she was legally adopted in 1945. She preferred the name Elaine Claire Quilty, and would return to that name after her divorces.

Elaine graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School in 1941 and Moline High School in 1952, and worked in the clerical field before retiring in 1992.

One of if not her first Job was at Woolworths Five & Dime. In the 1940's before she was married she worked for the Telephone Company and John Deere. From 1947 to 1951 she worked at Cook County Hospital in Chicago as she helped put her husband through dental school. From 1951 to 1971 she was a housewife and mother. In the 1970's she worked at Fresh Pack Candy Company and Ollar Hardware. In the 1980's she worked for Larry Carlson Construction Co. In the 1990's she delivered Meals-on-Wheels for Project Now.

Some things she often said regarding life in the American economy: "You can't get blood out of a turnip... Sometimes you have to rob Peter to pay Paul... The door swings both ways."

Elaine married Dr. Robert H. Quilty (1922-1999) November 9, 1946 at Sacred Heart Church in Moline. After 25 Years of marriage they were divorced in July 1972.

She married Dan Collins (1944-2004) August 29, 1986 in Rock Island. They were divorced February 13, 1997, but they were re-united shortly before his death.

She had five children: Stephanie (Clay, deceased) Hart, Polson Montana, Debra Quilty, John Quilty, Celesta Piliponis, all of Moline, and Mark Quilty, of Rock Island.

She also had seven grandchildren: Shawn (Keri) Dowds of Downingtown, PA, Jeffrey Piliponis (JoJo Norcross) , and Jonathan Piliponis (sons of Jeff) both of Moline. Alex Herrick (deceased) and Andrew Herrick, Lakewood Colorado (sons of Edie) Elaina Quilty, Davenport and Maria Quilty, Rock Island.

She also had eight great-grandchildren: Quinlan, Braden, and Kieran Finnegan Dowds, Downington Pennsylvania; Archer Piliponis and Ezra Piliponis, Moline, Logan Martin (son of Shawna) Davenport, Laynee Blake (daughter of Priscilla) Rock Island, and Joseph Robert, JR Teja, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

She also had a niece and god-daughter, Margaret (Brett) Starkey, Colona.

Elaine enjoyed attending the senior center, watching TV and keeping up on current events, as well as bingo and riverboat gambling.

Elaine was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church in Moline. She was baptized there, confirmed there, and married there. Her mother Margaret Erickson was also a member of Sacred Heart, as were her grandparents Louis and Flavie DeSmet who were one of the first marriages in the parish. She left Moline with her husband Robert Quilty in 1947 but returned in 1971 after their divorce. Since then Sacred Heart has continued to be her spiritual home.

Elaine enjoyed reading biographies and books on spirituality. She read the Bible several times over in various translations: Catholic, Protestant, and also Jewish. Some of her favorite authors were Mother Teresa and Henri Nouwen (Catholic), Charles Stanley (Baptist), and Eli Wiesel (Jewish).

Elaine was an independent voter with strong pro-life views.

She considered her children and grandchildren her legacy and her greatest desire was to be remembered with love.

Besides her children and grandchildren she is survived by a cousin Jim DeSmet age 80, Dallas Texas; her best friend forever, Donna Mae Westcott age 94, Longmont, Colorado, and a sister-in-law, Lucille Quilty age 100, Rock Island.

She was proud to have lived a long life and never bashful about her age or the number of candles on the cake. Her mother lived to be 90, and her grandmother lived to be 85. Some of her aging heroes were Betty White who passed away at the age of 99, Willie Nelson age 89 and Barbara Bush who passed away at age 92.

She was preceded in death by many family members too numerous to mention.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. And may all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family.