Mary Elizabeth Skender Gorman was born in Dawson, New Mexico shortly after her mother and father, Mathew and Johanna Frkovich Skender immigrated through Ellis Island, NY, from Mrkopal, Croatia to become U.S. citizens.
Mrs. Gorman was preceded in death by Cornelius E Gorman, MD, her husband of more than 45 years and native of Lynchburg, VA. She is survived by her three children, Dr. Cornelius E. Gorman, II, of Galveston, TX, Joan Gorman Livaccari, New Orleans, LA and Thomas Matthew Gorman, Mandeville, LA. She is also survived by her sister Matilda Ostanik, of Peoria, IL, her brothers John Skender of Peoria, IL, and Joseph Skender of Pittsburgh, PA, and Ernestine Weary, her devoted caretaker and family friend of more than 52 years.
Mrs. Gorman grew up in rural Fulton County, in Canton, Illinois near Peoria. She graduated from Lewiston High School and worked in Peoria before Federal assignment as Secretary and Assistant to the Surgeon General of the United States in Washington, D.C., until the end of World War II. While in the service of the Surgeon General she met, became engaged, and was married in 1944 to Col. Cornelius E. Gorman, MD., General Eisenhower's Aide and Representative to the Congress of the United States. Dr. & Mrs. Gorman moved to New Orleans immediately after the war and she then managed the Medical Center of New Orleans and Skender Memorial Laboratory on South Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans for more than 40 years. She lived in the Carrollton area and since 1954, in the West Lakeshore neighborhood of New Orleans.
Mrs. Gorman was exceptionally proud of her 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was a parishioner of Mater Dolorosa church until 1955 and of St. Pius X church thereafter.
