This is an excerpt of an Obituary @ 1949  Donegal Democrat.

NOTED EXILE'S DEATH
News has been recieved by relatives at Umiskin, Kilcar, of the death in
Chicago of the death of Professor John C. Gillespie who succumbed to a heart
attack at the age of 82.  He was the oldest living graduate of Loyola
University.

Emigrating as a young lad of 16 in 1883, he held various jobs including
gold-mining, until he found his vocation, teaching for a religious
institution.  He later took courses at Chicago's Loyola University, one of the
world's largest Catholic Universities, where he took his degrees, and then
taught at De La Salle and St. Ignatius High Schools.  Previous to his
retirement in 1932, he taught at Tully High School.

The late Professor G. was well known to most Donegal emigrants in Chicago and
took an active part in the social activities of people of Irish extraction
there.  He played a prominent role in the movement supporting the struggle for
Irish Independence.  Up to the time of his death, he was quite active and his
interest in the fortunes of his native country continued unabated.

His funeral oration was preached by Fr. Ralph Gallagher, SJ, Dean of Loyola
University, after which his remains were laid to rest in All Saints cemetery.

He is survived by his widow, Bridget McGinley, a native of Glencolumbkille,
two sons and three daughters.  One of his sons, John, is a Lt. in the Fire
Dept. and another, Frank, is a solicitor who plays an important part in
political and labor movements in the city.

Mr. John C. Gillespie is the uncle of Edward Gillespie (K45).

Pat Gillespie mentioned that Johnny Gillespie was looking for this John
Gillespie or his son.  It may have been his impression that this was the
missing Johnny Gillespie, brother of Jane.



According to another reference, Mrs. John C. Gillespie was listed as Mrs.
Delia Gillespie.  See below:

Ref. PdGp3 or p4.

"A news item on Radio Eirea brought information of the death in Chicago of
Mrs. Delia Gillespie, at the age of 85.  Mrs. Gillespie, it was stated,
travelled to the World's Fair in the United States more than sixty years ago
to give exhibitions of hand-spinning and remained their until her death.  The
late Mrs. Gillespie was a native of Loughincha, in the parish of
Glencolumbkille.  Her brother John died their some years ago, and a sister,
Mrs. Hegarty, who lived in Crowkerragh, Kilcar parish, is also deceased.  Some
time after her arrival in the United States she met her future husband,
Professor John Gillespie, a graduate of Loyola University and a native of
Kilcar Parish who died about ten yeara ago.  Of their surviving family of two
sons and two daughters, two of them, Mr. Frank Gillespie and Mrs. Mary Brady,
visited this country last year during the course of a Continental trip and
visited relatives here, calling on the Hegarty family of Crowkerragh and Mr.
Hugh Gillespie, Umiskin, cousins.  On his way back to the United States, Mr.
Frank Gillespie, a distinguished member of the legal profession in Chicago,
was the guest of honor at a dinner given in Limerick by brother lawyers
engaged on the Munster circuit".

Ref. Letter from LCMN, dated 22 Sept., 1993

'You mentioned a Bridget McGinley Gillespie who was also referred to as Delia.
In the West Coast of Ireland, Delia is often used for Brigid (probably because
Bedelia begins with a B and sounded more "up-market" than the common Brigid)
but I never heard it used at home.  Was this lady in the USA?  Strange things
happen to Irish names over there...'