Presvytera Gina Mueller, wife of Archpriest Thomas Mueller, Rector of Saints Cyril and Methodius Church here for 29 years, fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of Thursday, August 29, 2013 after a brief illness.
Born Gina Susan Murphy in Montreal, she was well known in the Chicago Deanery and the Diocese of the Midwest. She was a good friend of many and an active minister in the work of Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, where she painted the icons on the iconostasis, taught Sunday school, engaged in neighborhood outreach and tutoring, assisted with urban faith-based community organizing, and sang in choir. She had experienced the typical pastoral peregrinations early on, helping with Father Tom’s ministry at Saint Elias Church, Jamestown, NY; Holy Protection Church, Royalton, IL; Holy Assumption Church, Lublin, WI; and Saint Nicholas Church, Mentor, OH, before finally settling in Milwaukee.
She held a BA from the University of New Brunswick and Master’s degree in library science from the University of Toronto. She worked many jobs over the years, the longest and last vocation being to help pregnant teenage girls as a teen parent advocate in the Milwaukee Public Schools, working mostly at Washington High. She remained a citizen of Canada to the end. She lead an active life despite the continuing affects of childhood polio, and was always a modest, tolerant, unaffected, tolerant, positive and peaceful person, always ready to do whatever was asked of her. She is sorely missed, but happily did not suffer long in her sudden illness.
In addition to Father Thomas, she is survived by two sons, Priest Elijah and Savva; one daughter, Daria; and four grandchildren, Gabriel, Benjamin, Nadia and Isho Mueller.
Visitation will begin on Monday, September 2, at 1:00 p.m. at Saints Cyril and Methodius Church. The Funeral Service will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m. On Tuesday, September 3, burial will take place from the church at 10:00 a.m. Memorial donations may be sent to Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, 2505 S. 30th St. Milwaukee, WI 53215, or Saint Makarios Mission, c/o 1100 East 55 St, Chicago, IL 60615.
May Presvytera Gina’s memory be eternal!