Annabelle Whalen

1933 - 2021

Annabelle Whalen
May 20, 1933 - May 27, 2021
Amelia Island, Florida -
Annabelle Patricia Whalen, 88, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away May 27, 2021 in Amelia Island, Florida.
A native of Ashtabula, Ohio, Annabelle was the sixth of seven children of Leo and Isabelle Whalen (with four brothers and two sisters). Endowed with great intellect, a sharp wit, and a lively spirit, Annabelle dedicated her life to teaching and advising in higher education.
Upon receiving a bachelor's degree in English from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, Annabelle began her teaching career in the Cleveland Public School system at James Ford Rhodes High School. She was awarded a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling from John Carroll University, and joined St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland in 1981, where she served as the director of college counseling for the next two decades. A founding member of the Jesuit High School College Counselor Association, she served as a member of the National Association of College Admission Counselors as well as the College Board, for which she served on the Midwestern Regional Council.
Throughout her tenure, Annabelle established strong and enduring relationships with college counselors across the nation, to the benefit of St. Ignatius students and the school. Her involvement enabled her students to enjoy placement in Jesuit colleges and universities throughout the country that were among the most respected in the nation. Annabelle felt the most rewarding part of her job was helping students reach their potential – to strive for the Jesuit principle, "the magis," or "the more." She found the most gratifying – and joyful – part of her job was in helping the underserved and less fortunate in her school communities by providing opportunities through education that many may not have experienced otherwise. She delighted in helping to make a difference in their lives. Her warm heart and enduring sense of humor endeared Annabelle to generations of parents, faculty, students, and graduates, with whom her relationships were legendary. Her legacy lives on in the lives of these students and their families.
During her time at St. Ignatius, Annabelle received numerous honors and awards, including the Father J. Rossing, S.J. Award for Teacher of the Year, given to a faculty member who embodies the Christian values of St. Ignatius. She was a member of the Board of Regents at St. Ignatius from 2004-2009, and received the Seal of Loyola Award from the Board of Regents in 2009. In addition, the Whalen Book Award, bestowed annually at the in her honor, is presented to the graduating senior who has displayed excellence in academic, extracurricular, and spiritual contributions to the school. She was awarded lifetime membership in the Ohio Association of College Counseling for her meritorious service to the profession, and in recognition of her significant participation and contribution to its activities.
Annabelle was a favored aunt of many nieces and nephews scattered throughout the country, and her passion for skiing and golf provided many hours of recreation with family members and friends in destinations such as Beaver Creek, Colorado, and Amelia Plantation in Florida, among many others. She was preceded in death by brothers Bill, Tom, Bernie, and Frank, and sisters, Mary and Kathleen. She is survived by 26 nieces and nephews, and dozens grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Interment St. Joseph Cemetery, Ashtabula. Family and friends are invited to meet for Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am Wednesday at St. Patrick's Church, 3602 Bridge Ave, Cleveland 44113. Friends may call at McGorray-Hanna Funeral Home, 14133 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107, 4-6 pm Tuesday only. Arrangements by Fioritto Funeral Service www.FiorittoFS.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Annabelle Whalen Scholarship, c/o The Welsh Academy at Saint Ignatius, 1944 W 32nd St., Cleveland, OH 44113.