Pauline L. Bury

Pauline Lucile Bury, 95, of Milford, passed away at 6:58 p.m. Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Iroquois Memorial Hospital, in Watseka.

She was born on June 11, 1928, to Ross and Mildred (Davis) Bury. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother and brother- Lloyd Bury.

She is survived by several cousins.

She graduated from Stockland High School in 1946 and earned her BS, in 1950 and her MS, in 1956, from the Illinois State University, in Normal, Illinois.  Pauline was the valedictorian of the class of 1946 and received the DAR award. 

She taught school at Saybrook-Arrowsmith High School, Wellington High School, Hoopeston High School, Heidelberg American High School, in Germany and Hinsdale Township High School South, until her retirement in 1985.  In 1958 she was selected as Teacher of the Year by the Women’s Club and in 1965, she received the Sustained Honor Award from DOD.  She continued in the field of education following her retirement by supervising student teachers for Northern Illinois and University of Illinois-Chicago, teaching gifted 7th and 8th graders and other mathematics classes for the College of Du Page and being Associate Director of an NSF Institute from Northeastern University.

She was a member of the Pleasant Hill and later the Stockland United Methodist Church.  Pauline belonged to many professional organizations- National Education Association, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Retired Teachers Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (Newsletter Editor 82-84, secretary 1957), Metropolitan Mathematics Club, National Supervisor of Teachers of Mathematics, Women in Mathematics Education, School Science and Mathematics and Association of Wimen in Science.

She participated in Elm School, Hinsdale PTO activities, was a member of the Hinsdale Caucus for #181 and secretary for 4 years.  She provided a home for two singers for the Hinsdale Opera Company.  She was also a volunteer for the Hinsdale Chapter of Lyric Opera. 

After retirement she was an active quilter in the Lettuce Lake Quilters, in St. Ogden, Florida, Disconnected Piecers Quilt Guild, in Port Charlotte, Florida, Land of Lincoln Quilting Association of Illinois, and the Hands All Around Quilters, in Bloomington, Illinois.  She provided quilts to raffle for the Milford Library, Stockland Community Gym, Milford Methodist Church and Milford Swimming Pool.  Pauline was an avid participant in the Milford early morning swim.

A Celebration of Pauline’s Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2024, at Blurton Funeral Home, 309 E. Washington St. Hoopeston, with Pastor Mindy Weller White officiating.  Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.  She will be laid to rest following the service in Sugar Creek Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Milford Park and Pool Foundation or the Milford Public Library.  The family has entrusted the Blurton Funeral Home to assist them in honoring Pauline’s life.  Condolences may be shared with the family on her everlasting memorial page at:  www.BlurtonFuneralHomes.com.

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