Mary Therese Nolan

There is nothing that can equal the treasure of so many shared memories
Antoine De Saint-Exupéry
Mary Therese Nolan, 59, of Chicago, Illinois passed away suddenly in late August, 2023. She was born in 1964 in Eugene, Oregon to William and Margaret Nolan. Mary Therese, better known as Therese, was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.
Therese was a generous, jovial, kindhearted individual who brought joy to all those around her. Despite limited means, she always had a gift to give and found happiness in creating handmade treasures for her family, such as earrings and knitted scarves. She relished seeking out collectibles in antique shops to give as presents and consequently her apartment was affectionately referred to as the "Knick Knack Shack".
Her thoughtfulness and creative talents will be cherished and remembered always, but perhaps her greatest gift was her unconditional love and willingness to forgive.
Therese had a wonderful, zany sense of humor and infectious laugh, and took delight in the amusement prevalent in everyday life. She enjoyed playing pranks, bringing fun into the lives of all those she cared about. Family was incredibly important to Therese, even though they lived miles away. She held them close to her heart and often traveled to Detroit to spend time with them.
From a young age, Therese had a special affinity for the elderly and developed, beautiful, meaningful relationships with the seniors in her life. This eventually led to her employment as a caregiver at an elder care facility, where she was beloved by her patients whom she attended to with compassion and integrity. Therese was an extremely sensitive individual who had the utmost empathy for all; especially those struggling, weak, or in need. Her heart was huge.
Therese loved animals, particularly cats. The neighborhood felines and dogs would gleefully greet her on the street, knowing she would shower them with affection and treats. She also had two beloved cats of her own that she rescued, Theodore and TurtTurt, who lived long, happy lives under her care.
Therese was a great cook, always scouring magazines for new recipes. Baking gourmet pizza from scratch was one of her specialties which she served at the now legendary Nolan pizza parties. In addition to culinary arts, she loved flowers and with her green thumb, took delight in beautifying her apartment complex's courtyard with her plantings over the past 25 years.
Therese enjoyed travel and embarked on numerous memorable excursions, including a trip to Spain, and jaunts to spectacular Big Sur and Point Reyes in California, the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Glacier National Park, to name a few. Wherever she went, she made sure to research the history of the region's people and geography and share this knowledge with her travel companions. She was always curious and relished learning about new subjects.
Therese graduated from Henry Ford High School in Detroit, attended Eastern Michigan University, then transferred to Michigan State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism as well as an associate's degree in photography from Lansing Community College. While at LCC, she obtained a coveted position as an assistant at the Maine Photographic Workshop in Rockport for a summer. From an early age, she excelled in writing and photography, so it was only natural to combine the two. In 2011, she went on to graduate from a web design and application program at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
In terms of her career, Therese pursued various professions throughout her life. For the last 33 years she made Chicago her home. Early on, she worked as an assistant in the visitor services center at the Art Institute of Chicago, and then as a fact checker and researcher at Encyclopedia Britannica. She put her writing and photography skills to excellent use while serving as the editor-in-chief for Antiques and Collecting Magazine, and her affection for animals led her to work as an in-home pet care provider and dog walker. However, her most meaningful and current employment took place at the Selfhelp Home in Chicago. For many years, Therese lovingly cared for senior citizens, many of whom were Holocaust survivors in their 80's and 90's, as well as many centenarians. Her time at the Selfhelp Home allowed her to make a positive impact on their lives, and she in turn was deeply touched by this responsibility and lessons learned from residents during her tenure there. Each one of Therese's patients held a special place in her heart, and she was treasured by them in return.
Mary Therese Nolan, or simply Therese, will be remembered for her generosity, kindness, and love for her family, friends, and those she cared for during her career. Therese will live on in the hearts and minds of all who were fortunate enough to know her. Though she will be missed terribly, may she finally be granted the solace and peace she always deserved, free of all pain and worries.
Therese's life will be forever cherished by her surviving family members: her parents, William and Margaret Nolan; her sister Christine Ridgway and brother-in-law Thomas Ridgway; her brother Patrick Nolan and partner Debb Foreman; her sister Amy Vance and brother-in-law Ken Vance; her sister Lori Nolan and partner Cameron Dunlop; her nieces Sofia Deaton and Kira Vance; and nephews Grant Deaton and Taylor Vance.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Therese's memory may be made to the organizations below:
For further information please call 312-421-0936.