Kurtz, Mary (Molly) Clara 1932-2013

KURTZ, HUGHES, WALSH, ORGLER, VOGT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/26/2026 at 11:10:50

Mary Kurtz Obituary
Mary (Molly) Clara Kurtz

Chicago

Mary (Molly) Clara Kurtz, 81 of Chicago, Illinois passed away on December 29, 2013 at home after courageously living with cancer. Molly was born an identical twin to "Betty" Elizabeth Ann Kurtz (deceased August 19,1985) on August 23,1932 in Des Moines, Iowa, to Mary Elizabeth (Hughes) and Bernard Donnell Kurtz. She attended St Augustin Grade School and St. Joseph Academy High School in Des Moines and St Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terra Haute, Indiana. Her sophomore year of college, she and Betty decided to enter the community of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary known as the BVM's. During her 17 years as a nun, Molly earned a BA at Clark College in English and Education, and an MA at Marquette University in Theology. She accumulated a vast amount of teaching experience with K-12, and worked as a religious education consultant. In 1971 she left the convent and in 1972 moved from Iowa City to Minneapolis where she worked for Hennepin County for seventeen years in the divisions of Organizational Development, Finance Records - with a focus on performance reviews, and Chemical Health. She retired from Hennepin County in 1987 and started her own business "Perspectives 21" that emphasized collaboration. Research related to her business led her to relocate in Oklahoma in 1991 where she pursued her study of Ancient Wisdom and Esoteric Christianity. Based on her experiences in Oklahoma, she moved to Chicago in 1994 where for twenty years she was actively engaged in issues devoted to peace, social justice, and progressive human unity. Molly was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Mary Elizabeth Kurtz, and her sister Betty. She is survived by her brother, Bernie Kurtz (Becky), sisters, Katie Walsh (Martin), Gerry Orgler (Ray-deceased), Allie Vogt (Peter) eight nephews, four nieces, eight great nephews, six great nieces and numerous cousins. Molly was courageous, generous, intelligent, and thoughtful. She will be remembered for her kind and loving spirit. A memorial service will be held at St Nicholas Church in Evanston, Illinois on January 8, 2014 at 2:00PM. Molly's ashes will be joined with her identical twin sister, Betty at the BVM Mount Carmel Cemetery in Dubuque, Iowa. Suggested donations are: Sisters of Charity BVM, CARE, Saint Nicholas Church, True Botanica Foundation (Anthroposophical Homeopathy), the Institute of Cultural Affairs, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and 8th Day Center for Justice.
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Published by the Des Moines (IA) Register on Jan. 5, 2014.