Queen of the Alley Cats —Kathleen Mavourneen Schippers by Joe Lyons
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Kate Schippers is my niece and the oldest child of ten children born to my sister Jackie and her husband Dave. On October 12, 2022 Kate died from heart surgery complications. Our hearts are torn to pieces to have her pass away so unexpectedly. She and I spent a lot of time together when we were little since she was only three years younger than me. My mom and dad often dumped me off at her house when they went on trips out of town. We shared a bedroom and we got to paint the room with forest green trim and robin’s egg blue walls. We were so proud of ourselves. I had forgotten about our club called the Alley Cats until Joe Lyons delivered this eulogy at Kate’s funeral…Judy Liautaud
Kate’s Eulogy Written and Delivered by Joe Lyons
Michael, Jamie, Will, Lydia, Sara, Christie, Grands: Annabelle, Flora, Lennox, Autumn, Eleanor and Luke. I extend to all of you on behalf of everyone here our love and prayers and support, not just today, but forever. And from Dave, Jackie, and Tommie who are with us here now.
Dear Family and Friends of Kathleen Mavourneen Schippers.
In doing a little research yesterday I found that Kathleen Mavourneen was a poem written in 1833 and put to music four years later. Mavourneen means “my beloved” from its galic roots. The song was extremely popular immediately and made its way to the US as a popular tune during the Civil War. The poem, the song, tells of two lovers who will be parting—not knowing if it will be for a year or forever. It starts: “Kathleen Mavourneen
The grey dawn is breaking
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill
The lark from her light wing, the bright dew is shaking
Kathleen Mavourneen what slumbering still….
My name is Joe Lyons, but for the first 14 years or so of my life it might just as well been Joe Schippers… Judy Liautaud, you can make that same claim. It seems one of us were there every weekend. I think Dave and Jackie could have sent limos to get us over on Saturdays and Sundays to give them a little escape from the 24-7 obligations they had with their brood.
But when Judy or I went home on Sunday—it was Kate in her role as mother hen, mother’s helper, and chief diaper changer all week long. And, by the way: for putting up with the nine of you mutts her whole life. Trust me: Kate got an express ticket to heaven.
When we grew up during the late 50’s and 60’s there were no cell phones, no internet, no color TV, no remote control, just rotary phones and only one per household. But what we did have were vivid imaginations and a great inner ability to entertain ourselves for hours on end.
The Lyons/Schippers compound was on Pensacola avenue in the Mayfair neighborhood at Cicero and Montrose. Dave and Jackie were at 4844 and Grannie Schippers next door at 4848. There was an empty lot on the side of the house with various vegetation growing pretty wildly. We decided to put in a path from the front side walk, through what we called the “jungle” and dug a hole in the back next to the alley fence. We of course decided to call ourselves the Alley Cats.. me being the King and Kate being the Queen. Hence, “Kate, Queen of the Alley Cats.”
We were so blessed with a very close-knit family. Nobody called ahead, you just stopped over. No problem. On any given weekend someone was there. Jackie and Dave were the champs with ten kids, Jerry and Pat finished up with 6 and Gerald and Jeannette had 5. Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day family parties were ecstasy…a big part of Kate’s life and a big part of ours.
The summers of going upnorth. An incredible slice of paradise called Bond Lake. What John and Ethel Liautaud had found in the 1930’s was nothing short of a magical place. Harry Fromm, Wanless’s Rustic Lodge, fabulous downtown Wascott and going over the t,t,t,t,t,t,ta, toga, tick River. Northern Wisconsin in Kate’s heart and soul… in all of your hearts and souls.
In her 20’s Kate started working for congressman Annunzio in Washington DC. Kate and I went to President Jimmy Carter’s main inaugural ball at the Washington Hilton. We finished the night at the piano bar with none other than the president’s brother Bill Carter. It was there that Kate met Randy and we have Jamie, Will, and Lydia as beautiful offspring of their marriage.
We all grew up together, all going to each other’s weddings, baptisms, graduations, always keeping close with Christmas Eve, the long running magical evening to bring us all together.
Every one of you could come up here and share a Kate story. Kate was a piece of all of our lives. Memories that will live in each of us forever. With her passing away so unexpectedly last week, after getting such promising news of her daily progress, makes all of us realize just how precious life is. Kathleen Mavourneen Schippers was and is a little bit of all of us, and all of us were a little bit of Kate. If Kate could talk to us right now I’m sure she would thank you for your outpouring of your love and prayers during her illness and thank each of you for being a special part of her life.
When the eternal question of “why are we here” was put to Albert Einstein (arguably one of the greatest minds in history) without a second of hesitation he replied, “For Each other.”
Kate was a giver, she was here for Michael, her children, grandchildren, family, friends, and the children whose lives she touched so nobly at school. To keep the spirit of what Kate gave to all of us, I suggest we can honor Kate’s memory by making our lifetime re-commitment to always be here for each other.
Thank you
God bless you Kate, Our Queen of the Alley Cats.
Kate Schippers Obituary
Kathleen M. Schippers, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away on Oct. 12, 2022 at age 69. She was a resident of Arlington Heights, IL and Lodi, WI.
Kate was born on Aug. 26, 1953, in Chicago to David P. Schippers and Jacquelin Schippers (nee Liautaud), the eldest of 10 children. Growing up in Chicago and Northbrook, IL, Kate was the “mother duckling” to her four sisters and five brothers.
Kate received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from George Washington University and a master’s degree in education from Marian University in Fond du Lac, WI. She worked for more than 14 years with Deerfield Public Schools District 109, where she was a library information specialist.
Kate was known for her love of children and reading. She had a gift for bringing books to life, and her amazingly expressive read-alouds were enjoyed by hundreds of children over the years. She was a positive influence to countless students, with many becoming avid readers themselves.
Kate’s children and grandchildren were her biggest joy. She was a great supporter to family members, assuring them they could achieve anything they wanted to accomplish. Kate will be remembered for her hearty laugh and her love and acceptance for all.
Kate was preceded in death by her parents and brother, the Hon. Thomas M. Schippers.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Batka; children James TeWinkle, William (Nicole) TeWinkle and Lydia (Will) Phelps; and stepchildren Sarah (Blake) Stegeman and Christie Batka (Paul Kopp). Her grandchildren are William and Nicole’s children, Annabelle, Flora, and Lennox; and Sarah and Blake’s children, Autumn, Eleanor, and Luke.
Kate is also survived by her siblings: David Schippers III (Pat Connor); Antoinette “Tiyi” Schippers (David Bunce); Ann Schippers Winter (Bob Winter); Colleen Schippers Margolis (Lou Margolis); Kevin Schippers (Beth Hunter); Dr. Mary (Mimi) Schippers; Patrick Schippers (Trisha); Peter Schippers (Dr. Laura Taylor); Thomas’ wife Carol; and an abundance of nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
She is also survived by “auxiliary siblings,” her cousin Joe Lyons and aunt Judy Liautaud.
A visitation is scheduled for Monday, October 17, 2022 at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030 from 10:00am until 12:00pm. A funeral mass is scheduled for Monday, October 17, 2022 at 12:00pm St. Gilbert Catholic Church 301 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. Interment will be held privately. For more information log onto www.strangfuneral.org or contact (847)223-8122.
