Susan McCarthy Star

The pride of Chicago’s South Side Irish was diminished with the untimely loss of Mary Susan McCarthy Star, 56, on June 16, 2017, in Scottsdale AZ, with her husband holding her hand and her family at her side. Born in Chicago on November 1, 1960, Sue was the fifth child and youngest daughter of Chicago Police Sergeant Norman McCarthy and Elizabeth McCarthy. A graduate of Queen of Peace High School, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northern Illinois University, and Loyola University of Chicago, Sue completed degrees in accountancy, a CPA, and an MBA. During her business career she held financial leadership positions at companies such as USG, Avon, Sybase, and Honeywell, in locations from Chicago to Northern California, to Guangzhou, China, to Phoenix. Her deepest and truest gifts were the love and friendship she gave so generously to others. She rejoiced in her marriage to Tom Star, the love of her life. Together they created homes that welcomed friends and family to California and Arizona for 17 happy years. Since their retirements just three short years ago, Tom and Sue indulged their joy of travel and exploration around the world. Of all their excursions, her favorite was their pilgrimage last year along the Holy Camino from Portugal to Santiago de Compostella in Spain, during which they logged 162 miles on foot. Sue and Tom especially enjoyed vacationing with her brother and sisters and their spouses, family, and dear friends. Sue is survived by her loving husband Tom of Scottsdale AZ and her beloved stepdaughters Stephanie (AJ Gitlin), Salt Lake City, and Natalie (Tyler Hoffmeyer), Park City UT. She is also mourned by her brother Tim (Carol) McCarthy, Orland Park IL; and sisters Laurie (Michael) Talkington, Champaign IL; Betsy (Gene) Richter, Beecher IL; and Karen Lang (late Tony/Dave Blaugh), La Grange IL; her devoted mother-in-law Rose Marie Star, Helper UT; sister-in-law Gena Star, Jacksonville FL; and brother-in-law Paul Star, Murray UT; as well as many cherished nieces and nephews, for whom she served as godmother and mentor; also aunts, uncles, and many dear cousins. During her brief illness, countless friends came from across the country to share memories and bid farewell to a beautiful woman of profound compassion and world-class style and grace. Throughout her life, Sue lived and celebrated her Catholic faith, and together with Tom, they shared their blessings unreservedly. With supreme confidence that the gates of heaven has opened for Sue, her husband Tom and family welcome you to the Mass of the Resurrection on Wednesday, June 21, at 10:00 am at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, 10755 N. 124th St., Scottsdale AZ. Interment Saturday, June 24, 2017, 11:00 a.m., at the Mt. View Cemetery in Helper, Utah. Chicago-area memorial service at St. Cletus Catholic Church, La Grange IL, on Tuesday, June 27, at 10:00 am. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family invites your gifts in her name to St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, the Juvenile diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), or the charity you feel would best represent Sue’s loving nature and best hopes for us all. God bless and keep all who knew and loved our dear Sue Star.