Ruth Starshak Martin

Ruth Starshak Martin, age 93, 64 year resident of Elmhurst; a lifelong devoted Volunteer, Ruth held leadership positions with countless charities and organizations throughout her life. For her alma-mater, Mount Mary University (’50) she served on the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, was an Advisor on the National Alumnae Board, along with numerous committees. Ruth held many positions at her parish of 64 years, Immaculate Conception, including Chair of the Parish Services Committee, the Advisory Council, the Coordinating Committee and the Council of Catholic Women. She also co-chaired the Vietnamese Resettlement Committee at IC. Ruth was a founding member of the People for Elmhurst Parks foundation, Chairman of the Elmhurst Park District Citizens Advisory Commission, Coordinator of the Park District’s Volunteer Services-facilitating the planting of hundreds of trees for Earth Day 1990. A few of the other organizations included Elmhurst Walk-In Ministry, United Community Concerns, The United Way (Director-At-Large), the Girl Scouts and Chair and Discussion Leader for Junior Great Books. Until just last year, Ruth was a Regional Award Judge for the Catholic Extension Society’s Lumen Christi Awards-a project that gave her great joy. Ruth held a wide variety of work positions, from NBC Television-securing props for live television shows, to Elmhurst College’s adult ed Center for Special Programs, the Office of Volunteer Services for Elmhurst Park District, Illinois Bell service rep and Marshall Fields sales clerk, among others. Ruth was the beloved wife of the late Edgar H. Martin; loving mother of Patty (Dee Schmidgall) Martin; dear sister of Sue (the late John) Klemmer, Joe (Mary Clare) Starshak and the late Thomas (the late Barb) and the late Albert (Mary) Starshak and the late Mary Kay (the late Hugh), fond aunt and great-aunt of many nieces and nephews. Visitation Friday, July 30, 2021, 9:00 a.m. until time of prayers 10:30 a.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, (½ mile North of Saint Charles Road), Elmhurst. Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. MASKS REQUIRED AT VISITATION AND MASS due to private family health situation. No exceptions. Interment St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery, Lemont. The Mass will be livestreamed at the funeral home website. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 North Ridge, Chicago, IL 60660 or Mount Mary University, 2900 North Menomonee River Pkwy, Milwaukee, WI 53222-4597. For funeral information please call 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com