It is with the greatest sadness that we announce that Mary Krane Derr, co-founder and board member of All Our Lives, passed away recently after a sudden illness. Our hearts go out to Mary’s husband, daughter, grandson, and the rest of her family.
In the coming days and weeks, we will be posting more about Mary’s legacy, and how we plan to honor her memory by continuing the work she was so passionate about. It will be much harder without her, and we will miss her terribly.
I’m so, so sorry.
She left so much to be proud of.
I am so shocked. Please Jen, get in touch with me. I am president of the Hyde Park/Kenwood Pro-Life Association with which we have Mary listed as a neighborhood liaison (for Non-Violent Choice Directory and All Our Lives). FYI, I am a political orphan, consistent life ethic activist/networker, freelance writer on health science/disparities, and Catholic parish “Respect life/Consistent Life.” At our 5th Annual 2-day Caring-Compassion-Service Public Resources Fair in the State of Illinois Building (co-sponsored by South Haven Pregnancy Center) we of HPKPLA featured a complete All Our Lives for browsing and handed out selections from it. I am shocked to find no mention of Mary’s death in our community newspaper or Chicago papers. I learned about it from LifeNews, whose article is cited by other mentions I found under google. HPKPLA will have its annual large ad in the Hyde Park Herald newspaper during National Sanctity of Human Life Week the third week of January 2013, focused on need and sources of support for pregnant girls and women, single mothers, families with children with special needs–and providers and family/friends who can help. Last year we highlighted All Our Lives as a specially recommended resource. This year I would like to mention Mary’s passing and again offer All Our Lives as a resource for everyone. We mention your support for family planning, which gets lost in our ridiculous binary politics (in the cracks between which I reside). Please call me to talk. Louise Kaegi