Person:Mark Slattery (1)

From the November 14, 1967, edition of the Dubuque (IA) Telegraph Herald

Boy, 11, Dies, and School Flies Flag at Half-Staff

The flag flies at half-staff outside Sacred Heart School, 2212 Queen St. Inside the pupils go numbly through their lessons, but their minds are not on their work.

Their schoolmate and friend, Mark M. Slattery, 11, died Monday of cancer at Xavier Hospital.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Slattery, 2533 Stafford St. Three brothers and a maternal grandmother also survive.

His sixth-grade classmates cried when told of his death. As word spread through the school, teachers came to the office of the principal, Sister Mary Sebastian, OSF, saying that their students had asked to attend the funeral mass for Mark at 10 am Wednesday.

The church may not be able to hold them all - 600 youngsters in grades three through eight. These same youngsters asked to fly the flag at half-mast in Mark's memory, and it will remain lowered all day Wednesday.

His death "really has affected the student body very much," Sister Sebastian said.

Mark was a bright, lively boy with flashing black eyes, not a brilliant student, but a good one - "high average," Sister Sebastian said. "He was just a real fine chap all around."

He used to be one of the first at school every morning. Last year he missed only two days of school. That was in May when he began feeling ill.

His mother took him to the doctor, and it was learned that he had terminal cancer of the stomach. Mark was hospitalized in June. He never returned to school. But his friends never forgot him through the months of heartbreak and pain.

They wrote letters to him and held "Mark Slattery Day" in October. The pupils called him "Brother Mark." Sister Sebastian, who visited Mark often, said, "He never gave up hope."

He once asked her if the school still had books for him and a desk where he could sit.

There is a desk for Mark. But it's empty.

Mark Michael Slattery

Services for Mark Michael Slattery, 11, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Slattery of 2533 Stafford Ave., who died at 10 am Monday at Xavier Hospital, will be at 10 am Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. Fred Kriebs, pastor, offering the Requiem High Mass.

Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call at the Hoffmann Mortuary.

He was a member of Troop 12, Boy Scouts of America and The Dubuque Boys Club.

He was born in Dubuque, the son of Melvin and Madonna Ryan Slattery, and lived in Dubuque all his life.

He attended Sacred Heart parochial school and was in the sixth grade.

Surviving are his parents, three brothers, Roger, Allan and Robert Slattery, all at home; and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Loretta Ryan of Dubuque.

Members of Sacred Heart parish will meet at the Mortuary at 7:30 pm Tuesday to pray the Rosary.