Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mary Grace Sullivan McGuire

Aug. 19, 1912 - Feb. 27, 2008

South Bend Tribune 2/29/2008
SOUTH BEND - Mary Grace "Grace" Sullivan McGuire, 95, formerly of Woodmont Drive, and for the past four and a half years a resident of Southfield Village, South Bend, passed away at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. Grace was born on August 19, 1912, in Horton, Kansas, to Francis and Alice (Frith) Sullivan. She grew up in Emporia, Kansas, and Trenton, Missouri, graduating from Trenton High School at age 16. Grace attended Maryville College of the Sacred Heart (now Maryville University) in Saint Louis, MO, and graduated from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, with a B.A. in English. Following graduation, Grace was selected by the state of Kansas to be part of a teacher training program for outstanding graduates, and she taught for several years in schools in Kansas City, KS. Grace subsequently attended Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, where she received her M.A. in Speech.

In 1942, Grace was hired by Sister M. Madeleva, President of Saint Mary's College to teach in the Department of Speech and Drama and to direct plays at the college. "The Song of Bernadett," Claudel's "Tidings Brought to Mary." And Wilder's "Our Town" were among many productions for which Grace was responsible. On March 29, 1948, Grace married fellow Saint Mary's colleague, Joseph J. McGuire at the Log Chapel on the Campus of the University of Notre Dame. Grace continued to teach at Saint Mary's, becoming a member of the Education Department faculty in the 1950's. In 1962, she became only the fifth recipient of the College's Spes Unica Award for excellence in teaching. During the 1960's, Grace was named the Director of Student Teaching for Saint Mary's and Notre Dame, a position created specifically for her. She retired in May 1980, with the rank of Associate Professor Emeritus. Grace was a member of Saint Matthew Cathedral, where she had been an active parishioner for nearly 50 years. She was also a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Key Women Educators, the American Association of University Women, the Panhellenie Association, and the University Club of Notre Dame.

Grace is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Richard Urda of South Bend; five grandchildren, Kathleen of Bronx, NY, Patrick of Washington, DC, Anne and Elizabeth of New York, NY, and Michael at home. Nephews, Patrick and Michael Sullivan, and Mark and Matthew McGuire; and nieces, Mary McGuire, Martha McGuire Morrell, and Maureen McGuire Locke. Grace was preceded in death by her parents and, in 1985, by her husband, Joseph. Her brother, Jay, and infant brother, Patrick, also preceded her in death, as did her brother-in-law, Michael J. McGuire, sisters-in-law, Betty McGuire and Marjorie Sullivan, and a nephew, Michael J. McGuire Jr.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday March 2 in the HICKEY Funeral Home, 3516 E. Jefferson, South Bend, IN (574-234-4155) where a Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 3 at 10 a.m. in Saint Matthew's Cathedral, 1701 Miami Street, South Bend, Reverend Michael Heintz, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. The family welcomes flowers and also would welcome contributions to either Saint Mary's College or to Saint Matthew Cathedral School in Grace's name. In addition, the family would like to extend special thanks to Grace's devoted friends, Pat Sell and Pat Singleton, and to Georgiana Fuchs and the many kind and conscientious nurses and caregivers at Southfield Village.