Theresa O'Rourke spent 46 years ensuring that a son who was a left a quadriplegic by a work accident at the age of 22 was able to live as fully and independently as possible.
That son was the late James O'Rourke, and his legacy lives through Jim's Place, the St. Ambrose assistive technology home created in 2011 through generous gifts from Joe Sr. '72 and Joyce O'Rourke, Jeff '77 and Cindy O'Rourke, Joe Jr. and Ashley O'Rourke and Julie (O'Rourke) '96 and Alex Zaveral.
A courtyard garden in the backyard of Jim's Place soon will be dedicated to honor the parents who instilled in their sons the deep devotion to family, faith and community that is embodied by Jim's Place.
The Leo J. and Theresa C. O'Rourke Prayer Garden was created through more recent gifts from Joe Sr. and Joyce O'Rourke, Joe Jr. and Ashley O'Rourke and Julie and Alex Zaveral, this time in honor of Theresa, who died last November.
"In a sense, she will still be looking after Jim," said Jon Turnquist, '92, '10 MOL, clinical assistant professor and the director of the Assistive Technology Lab at St. Ambrose.
Joe O'Rourke Sr., a member of the St. Ambrose Board of Trustees, said the family also wished to honor Leo, the father who died in 1972.
"My father was the driving force to make sure the family stayed close together, worked hard and practiced our religion," he said.
The O'Rourke family built a business with all the brothers, Jim, John, Joe Sr. , Jerry '77, Jeff and Jay, playing a role in its launch and Jim was instrumental in making O'Rourke Sales Co., a continual success before he died in 2009.
The family's support for Jim's Place was motivated by an interest in helping other persons with disabilities find adaptive solutions that can allow them to remain in their homes with a degree of independence. Joe Sr. said the family is pleased to see the assistive technology house continue to grow in that mission through a recent VA grant that will expand its reach beyond the Midwest.
"St. Ambrose has done a fantastic job," he said. "It's a great thing."
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