Jacqueline Tulley

Jacqueline Ann Tulley, Ph.D

Age 60 of Wilmington, IL passed away on December 23, 2020 at home, with family by her side, after a two year courageous battle with colon cancer.

Jacqueline was born on November 24, 1960 to Donald E. and Joan T. (nee Haley) Tulley. She was raised on the family farm and was very much a farm girl.  She helped her dad driving the tractors, feeding the hogs, walking the beans, taking care of the ponies, family dog, and the unending kittens.  She picked apples, pears, and cherries for her mom and grandmas’, and she always had time to go down and play in the creek.

Jacqueline graduated from St. Rose Parochial Grade School and Wilmington High School with the Class of 1978.  She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Lewis University.  From there she embarked on her lifelong learning in the career of Nursing.  She was a Trauma Nurse Specialist in the Emergency Department for over 20 years at Loyola University Hospital in Maywood.  During that time, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing and her Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified license, specializing in Cardiology, both from Loyola University.  Jacqueline enjoyed her career in cardiology with Advocate Health, but always made time to go back and work shifts as a trauma nurse at Loyola.  It was there, combined with her knowledge and years of experience, that she began teaching and coaching new nurses.  Jacqueline became interested in pursuing nursing education and became an adjunct professor at St. Xavier University for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.  From there, she became an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing teaching nurses that were pursuing their Master’s degree.  She continued her own studies at Loyola University and earned her Doctoral Degree in Nursing.  Jacqueline dedicated her entire career caring, healing, and teaching.

Jacqueline enjoyed the outdoors.  In her free time, she was an avid jogger, biker, and swimmer.  Jacqueline liked a good book, a good movie, a nice glass of wine, and watching the Chicago Bears.  She loved baking her chocolate chip cookies and taking countless dozens of them to the nurses on the oncology unit of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Jacqueline cherished nothing more than her three children.  Whether it was watching them in sports or listening to them sing, she worshiped every minute.  She took great pleasure watching them blossom into young adults and pursing their own successful careers.  She often said, “I love my kids, they are so amazing.”

Surviving are her beloved children, Matthew Saulters of Wilmington, IL, Garrett (Ashley) Saulters of Virginia, and Kiara Saulters of Los Angeles, CA; parents Donald and Joan Tulley of WIlmington; sisters Sharon Prusank of Yorkville, Donna (Robert) Ball of Lakeland, FL, and brother Stephen (Vanessa) Tulley of Plainfield, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends for a Covid observant walk through visitation on Sunday, December 27, 2020 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington.

Funeral services will follow Monday morning, December 28, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Rose Catholic Church, 604 S. Kankakee Street in Wilmington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Reverend Sebastian Gargol officiating.

Those wishing to participate in the funeral service virtually are welcome to join the live streamed service beginning Monday morning, December 28, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. A link will be available on Jacqueline’s memorial page.

Burial will be in Mount Saint Patrick Cemetery in Wilton Center.

Pallbearers will be: Ross Marshal, Dan Christmann, Stephen Tulley, Kyle Tulley, Steve Liaromatis and Ty Anderson.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Jacqueline's memory to the American Cancer Society for Colorectal Cancer Research (www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer)

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the guest book, upload photographs and share Jacqueline’s memorial page online through social media by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com/obituary/Jacqueline-Tulley

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. ( 815-476-2181 )