Marjorie Hunn

“She was the most generous person I have ever known.”

That is how Marjorie Ellen Hunn’s daughter, Darcy, describes her. At a restaurant, Marjorie had a rule: she was getting the ticket. “I’m the oldest,” she would tell the server before anyone else could reach for the check. Then she would learn the server’s name, ask a few questions, and very likely take a photograph before everyone left. Generosity wasn’t something Marjorie practiced occasionally. It was how she moved through the world.

Marjorie Ellen Hunn, 87, of Davenport, Iowa, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2026, after a brief illness with pneumonia. She was born March 10, 1939, in Springfield, Illinois, to Paul Joseph and Lily May (Hawkins) Hunn, the youngest of four daughters who grew to adulthood. Her father died when she was two, and her mother raised the girls on her own. The four sisters shared a spirited bond that lasted their lifetimes.

Raised in the Catholic faith, Marjorie graduated at the top of her eighth-grade class at St. Agnes Parish School in Springfield, then attended Sacred Heart Academy for grades nine through twelve. As a young woman, she entered the Dominican Sisters and devoted ten years to religious life, including teaching. Although her path eventually led beyond the convent, her faith never left her. She sang for many years in the choir at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and never hesitated to share her love for Jesus.

A gifted student and lifelong learner, Marjorie earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in outdoor education from DePaul University. Her academic honors included graduating magna cum laude. She taught in the Chicago area and Minnesota, worked for Continental Airlines at Chicago’s O’Hare Field (as she always called it), and eventually made Davenport her home, where her classrooms included Wilson, McKinley and Fillmore schools. Even decades later, former students and their families would stop her at church or the grocery store, delighted to see her again. Marjorie remembered names, faces and stories with astonishing clarity. Teaching wasn’t just her profession; it was one of the ways she loved people.

One of the defining friendships of Marjorie’s life was with Judy Calcari, whom she had known since their years in religious life. Together they shared decades of laughter, adventures, holidays and treasured memories. Through Judy, Marjorie became an honorary member of the Calcari family, joining in their celebrations and becoming a beloved presence in the lives of their children. Their friendship was filled with wonderful stories, many of which are still being told today.

Marjorie also had an adventurous spirit and a passion for exploring the world. Her travels took her from Hawaii and Florida to an unforgettable eight-country European adventure that included Italy and Switzerland. She delighted in experiencing new places, meeting new people and collecting memories along the way.

And she kept photographic evidence of it all. Her camera was almost always within reach. She photographed dinners, celebrations and people who would have preferred to finish eating first. Now those photographs are among the family’s treasures. She celebrated holidays with festive sweaters and jewelry, baked memorable Scotcheroos and pumpkin bars, loved Whitey’s ice cream, and could turn a quick telephone conversation into a delightful forty-five minutes. Given the right song—especially “Proud Mary”—she would happily take to the dance floor.

Her generosity extended far beyond her family. She remembered birthdays with handwritten cards, tucked little gifts into envelopes, and found reasons to thank the people who served her. She gave freely to charitable causes and, for many years, sponsored a young woman named Kristine in the Philippines through Unbound. To Marjorie, a letter asking for help wasn’t an impersonal mailing. It was a person worth answering.

Of all the remarkable experiences in her life, one she herself named among her fondest was meeting her daughter, Darcy, in October 2014. Their reunion brought profound joy to them both and gave Marjorie cherished years with Darcy and her grandchildren, Natalie and Nicholas. She adored them, and they adored the grandmother whose calls, cards, pictures and unfailing love filled their lives.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Joseph and Lily May Hunn; her brother Paul and sister Lily, who died in infancy; her three beloved sisters, Mary Louise “Mitzie” Collins, Paula Ann Denny and Alice Clare Flaherty; her niece Amy; and her cherished lifelong friend, Judy Calcari.

She is survived by her daughter, Darcy DeLau; her grandchildren, Natalie (Collin) Leavy and Nicholas Dvorak; and her much-loved nieces and nephews, Kathy, Carolyn, David, Mike, Tom, Louise, Tripper, Elizabeth, Will, Lillian, Johnny and Kevin, along with their spouses, children and families. She also leaves behind countless dear friends whose lives were enriched by her friendship, generosity and unwavering faith.

Public visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, November 21, 2026, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 2618 Boies Avenue, Davenport, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. and a luncheon at the church. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family. Following cremation, burial is planned for a later date at Calvary Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marjorie’s honor to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Davenport, Unbound, or The Woman’s Choice Center in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Marjorie wanted to be remembered as a happy, outgoing person who loved a good party. That is exactly how her family will remember her: with a smile, a story, a photograph—and the conviction that she is now celebrating with the Lord she loved.