Dr. Catherine F Mchugh

Carbondale - Dr. Catherine Frances McHugh, 98, passed away on Wednesday, September 05, 2012, after a brief illness at the Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County. There will be an evening visitation, Friday, September 7, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with prayer service at 7:45 p.m. at Meredith Funeral Home, Carbondale. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 8, 2012 at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 303 South Poplar, Carbondale, with Father Robert Flannery officiating. There will be a luncheon following the Mass. Burial will be at a later date in Mount Olivet Cemetery in DePere, Wisconsin, where four generations of the family are buried. Dr. McHugh was born August 31, 1914, the only child, to John Stephen and Ernstine (Stacey) McHugh in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She is survived by a number of relatives, including Walter and Patricia (McHugh) Kelly, Timothy and Kathleen (McHugh) Matchen, Dr. Ronald and Judith (McHugh) Shallat, John and Mary McHugh, Edmund and Maureen McHugh, Michael and Karla McHugh, Victoria McHugh, Julie Brogan, Raymond and Kathy Maanika, Stephen and Shannon Hargreaees, and John and Patricia Brogan, as well as many great-grand cousins. She was a lifelong educator, beginning her career teaching music in Plymouth, Madison and Menominee public schools during the period 1937-46. From 1946 into 1969, Dr. McHugh taught at the University of Arkansas as Instructor (1946-48), Assistant Professor (1948-53), Associate Professor (1953-59) and Professor (1959-69). In 1969 she was recruited by the President Delyte Morris administration to Southern Illinois University, where she served as a Professor of Music until her retirement as Professor Emerita in 1984. In 1992 she was recalled to teach for the SIU in Niigata campus in Japan for the summer term. Dr. McHugh graduated with the B.M. degree from Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, in 1937 and earned the M.M degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1945 and the Ed.D. degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, in 1959. She took postdoctoral courses in Educational Television at Northwestern University and made site visits to educational television programs in several states in the period 1960-70 as she divided her work at the University of Arkansas between on-campus teaching and weekly on-camera programming with the AETC between 1966 and 1969. She also developed interest and expertise in special education and in integrating music and art into special education programs during her years at SIU. Dr. McHugh received numerous scholarships and awards throughout her student and teaching years. Short term workshops and lecturing took her overseas in addition to her time in Japan, and she loved travel outside as well as inside the USA. On sabbatical leave in 1982, Dr. McHugh visited schools where curricula include music and the arts in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. She made personal and education visits to Southeast Asia, where she gave workshops and lectures, sometimes at schools where former students and associates were working. She lectured and influenced the course of music education in public schools in Malaysia, particularly in Sabah State, in conjunction with a visit with former SIU students from that land. Dr. McHugh was a beloved teacher and mentor to her students, and all through her retirement years she remained in communication with many of them. She provided support and inspiration to her friends and colleagues within her various associations and communities. She was recognized many times and in many ways for her contributions. Dr. McHugh was generous in her charitable giving. Exceptional bonds were established with her students and friends abroad, including a special one with a science education executive in Thailand to whom she referred as her "Thai daughter." A devote Roman Catholic, Dr. McHugh was an active member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church since 1969 when she moved to Carbondale. Dr. McHugh quietly became involved in many aspects of her church accomplishing a great deal with little need for acknowledgement. Dr. McHugh was instrumental in forming the Heritage Club, a social club for senior parishioners; assisting with Vacation Bible School; was a member of the Liturgy Committee; and, of course, sang in the choir, giving not only the gift of her voice but her vast expertise in music. Throughout her career she cared for those who needed help, and for her kindnesses she will be remembered around the globe. For years Dr. McHugh was blessed with friendship and attention of many people. Two friends helped her in many ways for years and were particularly important in the last days and weeks of her life. Jean Preston Muckelroy, was a long-term friend, who many times, especially in the final months, attended to Dr. McHugh's affairs and care. Nevlyn Reiman in the last years daily helped Dr. McHugh at home with loving care to make life comfortable and happy. Memorials may go to either a scholarship fund for the SIU School of Music, Carbondale, or the scholarship fund at Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Appleton, Wisconsin. Meredith Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.



Service:



11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2012



St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Carbondale, IL







Visitation:



5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2012



Meredith Funeral Home Carbondale, IL