Elizabeth Joan Moloney Grady, of Chicago, died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at The Terraces of The Clare Continuing Care Retirement Community near the Magnificent Mile in Chicago's Gold Coast.  Beloved wife of the late Thomas Howard Grady (U.S. Navy, refrigerator company executive, prize-winning handball player at Chicago Athletic Club, and founder of Notre Dame University's Marching Band), Elizabeth was also the daughter of the late William Timothy Moloney (former Chicago Deputy Fire Commissioner and O'Hare Airport Security officer) and the late Helen Lyng Moloney (Sun Electric technician and homemaker) whose ancestors emigrated to the USA from County Kerry, Tipperary,  and Limerick, Ireland.  Her older brothers include the late William Patrick Moloney (U.S. Navy, conservation advisor to Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson, educational and medical institutions' development officer, orchestrator of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Buckingham Fountain, Pioneer Press writer, and Illinois State Right-to-Life coordinator) and the late Thomas J. Moloney (U.S. Army, tank commander in World War II's Battle of the Bulge, Chicago Fire fighter, and Police officer).  Another brother, Bryan F. Moloney died in infancy.

Born in (and a life-long resident of) Chicago, she grew up in Norwood Park and attended Resurrection Academy.  Graduating from St. Patrick's Academy in Des Plaines, Elizabeth earned her B.A. in English & Speech Therapy at Mundelein College for Women (now Loyola University) in Rogers Park, her Master's in Educational Administration & Special Education at DePaul University downtown, and her Doctorate in Special Education & Educational Administration at the University of Sarasota in Florida.  She took additional graduate studies at Northwestern University (member of Phi Delta Kappa), University of Illinois, Chicago State University, and National College of Education.

Elizabeth started out teaching elementary school students "in an antiquated quonset hut on the North Side" for which she "supplied textbooks and other learning materials at her own expense".  Later Elizabeth worked as a speech-and-hearing technician for the Chicago Board of Education "lugging machinery and test materials on public transit to all parts of the city."  She chaired the Regional Hearing Committee of the Illinois Department of Public Health and served as Director of the Aquin Guild Teachers Organization Board as well as Director of the American Red Cross Regional Council.  Eventually she became Director for Speech and Hearing Conservation at the C.B.E., over-seeing more than a hundred employees before her retirement.

Thereafter, Elizabeth tutored students facing learning obstacles at several Near North schools.  "Aunt Betty" commenced her work life by moving into the Illinois Catholic Women's Club of Chicago located in Lewis Towers of Loyola University.  Well into her golden years, she engaged in sports such as golf, skiing, tennis, and swimming especially at her and Tom's condominium at Vacation Village in Fox Lake. She also traveled by herself to numerous countries in both hemispheres.  Finally, in 1969 she became one of the very first residents of The John Hancock Center Apartments, its Association's Director, and member of the nearby Tavern Club and The Platform Society.

One of Elizabeth's interests was politics: she served as the Hancock's Democratic 43rd Precinct Captain of the 42nd Ward, later going to the Democratic National Convention in 1980 as Ward Delegate.  Her uncle, the late Edmund P. Moloney, served as 41st Ward Democratic Committeeman while her great-uncle, the late Maurice T. Moloney, was appointed Attorney General of Illinois in 1892 and later retired after serving as Mayor of Ottawa, IL, where most of the Moloney family is now buried.  Moreover, an "unnamed" great-uncle was the real-life person on whom the character of gangster-politician, Ed Looney, was based as portrayed by actor Paul Newman in the movie "The Road to Perdition."

Civic-mindedness was another of Elizabeth's interests:  she was elected as the first female President of Streeterville Owners and Renters (S.O.A.R.) and initiated its building beautification award program.  She was also named the first woman member of Rotary International #1 in Evanston.   Whether as leader or as member, Elizabeth proudly served on numerous charitable boards and service committees, such as The House of The Good Shepherd, The Big Sisters, and The Chicago Fine Arts Society.

Her most important interest, however,  was her active practice of the Catholic faith.  By marrying her husband, Tom, at Holy Name Cathedral, Elizabeth Moloney Grady was simply following in the steps of her own parents' wedding (1915) and in the same parish where in the early 1900's her late maternal grandfather, Martin (late Johanna Audley) Lyng , acted as the Cathedral's tower bell ringer.  Her cousin, Sr. Mary St. Canice Lyng, B.V.M., was one of three nuns who died in the Our Lady of the Angels School fire in 1958.  Furthermore, one of her great-uncles, the late Fr. William Moloney, pastored in the California missions, writing a book entitled "Hallowed Were the Gold Dust Trails."  As a Holy Name Cathedral parishioner for over 70 years, Elizabeth participated in several weddings and baptisms of her nieces and nephews (and some of their own children and grandchildren, too).

Delighted to move into the burgeoning CCRC of The Clare-at-Water-Tower when it opened in 2008, she became the 4th person to enjoy its independent living, becoming an Ambassador for The Clare in recruiting and orienting a large number of its new residents.  During the years when The Clare was operated by the Franciscan Sisters, Elizabeth often read the anticipated-Sunday-Mass scriptures and hosted discussion groups, while at the same time performing in the chorus of Fourth Presbyterian Church nearby.

Finally, as regards her love of her family, "Aunt Betty" was a devoted aunt to her late brother Bill (late Edith L.) Moloney's eight children:  Jean A. Cooper (late Ron D.), Kevin W. (Linda Peters) Moloney, Deborah C. Moloney (Nancy M. Wentink), the late Robert L. (Dedrie Keegan) Moloney, Dorothy J. Moloney, Joseph N. (G. Heidi Flexig) Moloney, Julie M. Moloney, and Gerard W. ("Jerry") Moloney.  Her grand-nephews/nieces include Christiana M. Cooper, Matthew C. (Buffy Barfoot) Cooper, Kerri Lynn C. (S. Todd) Anthony, Michael W. (Cyndi Merritt) Moloney, Mary K. (Jacob D.) Warkel, Michael Angelo, Jill Angelo (Scott) Birnbaum, Joel M. McCloskey, Mara M. McCloskey-Becker (Ricky L Becker), Marty P. Moloney, Bridget M. Moloney, Noreen T. (Ryan C.) Morgan, Rita F. Moloney (A.J. Hoger), Sheila A. Moloney, Danny Moloney (Cody Calhoun), Brenna J. Moloney, Audrey J. Moloney, Kathryn G. (Jym R.) Miller, Sarah L. Moloney (Neil Shovelin), and Emily C. Moloney.  Additional great-grand nieces/nephews include Hannah R. Kuhn, Otis E. Cooper, Coretta V. Cooper, Nicholas Anthony, Luca Anthony, Merritt C. Moloney, William S. Moloney, Joseph B. Moloney. Payton M. Warkel, Breanne M. Warkel, Shelby B. Birnbaum, Jason B. Birnbaum, Jack W. McCloskey, Liam S. Moloney, Finley C. Moloney, Cora M. Moloney, Winnifred G. Miller, and Genevieve A. Miller.  Her living cousins include Mary L. Moloney of California and Sister Lenore Mulvihill, R.S.M. (former chair of Mercy Hospital's board) and now at Chicago's Mercy Circle.  Elizabeth is survived by numerous descendants of deceased family members as well as god-daughter Kathy Griffis.  She was especially grateful for help provided by Nicole Rolnick, Tammy McCarrell Muniz, Maria Kieta, and Deacon Mike McCloskey.

Visitation Saturday, July 9, 2022, at Holy Name Cathedral (735 N. State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654) at 10:00 a.m. with a Mass of Resurrection with Ashes from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m (celebrated by The Clare chaplain, Fr. Patrick Marshall and concelebrated by the Cathedral's Pastor, Very Rev. Gregory  Sakowicz).  Free parking is available at 14 West Superior Street (between Dearborn and State) by turning left and going down the ramp to any non-reserved space either on Lower Level-1 or Lower Level-2 and taking a ticket to be validated in the vestibule of the Cathedral.  Interment will follow in the Thomas H Grady family plot at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Memorial contributions may be given to Dr. Grady's "favorite charity" of Holy Name Cathedral of Chicago (c/o 730 North Wabash Avenue, 60611-2514).

Further information please call Michalik Funeral Home at 312-421-0936.