By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mrs. Derrick

Jeanne Gilligan Derrick, a longtime volunteer and former resident of Mount Lookout and Hyde Park, died Tuesday near her home in Naples, Fla. She was 81.

Her twin brother is former Ohio governor John J. "Jack" Gilligan, who is also a former U.S. congressman, a former Cincinnati councilman and current Cincinnati Public Schools board member.

"Her motto was `From those to whom much has been given, much is expected,' " said a son, J. Andrew "Drew" Derrick of Finneytown. "She believed that she was very blessed and never stopped giving back to others. She never worked for a living, but she never stopped working for others."

He said his mother took great pride and put a lot of energy into working on her brother's political campaigns.

Mrs. Derrick was born in 1921 in Cincinnati to Harry J. and Blanche Gilligan of Hyde Park. In 1877, her grandfather founded Gilligan Funeral Home, which the family still operates.

She graduated from Summit Country Day School and received a bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1943 from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.

While her three brothers fought with the Navy overseas in World War II, Mrs. Derrick helped on the home front by volunteering at area hospitals.

In 1947, she married F. John Derrick. They had eight children. Mrs. Derrick's volunteer organizations included Christ the King Catholic Church in Mount Lookout and St. Xavier High School.

In 1973, she became a volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital, devoting most of her time to the emergency room and helping grieving families. She also volunteered in the public library in Leland, Mich., where the family had a summer home, and later at a hospital in Naples, where the Derricks moved in 1994.

In addition to her son and brother, survivors include: her husband of 54 years, John; two other brothers, Harry of Indian Hill and Frank of Mariemont; two other sons, Paul J. of Loveland and Mark E. of Anderson Township; five daughters, Eileen Derrick, Martha Rauen and Julie Grombala, all of Anderson Township; Sara Borczik of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and Joan Newsome of Naples, Fla.; 23 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Monday at Gilligan Funeral Home, 2926 Woodburn Ave., Walnut Hills. A memorial Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 3223 Linwood Ave..

Memorials: St. Xavier High School Scholarship Fund, 600 North Bend Road, Cincinnati 45224; or the Leland Township Library, 203 E. Cedar St., Leland, MI 49654.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com