Regina Marie Foley

Dr. Regina Marie Foley, Professor of Special Education in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 22, 2009. She was born to Emmett William Foley and Thelma Monica (Erny) Foley, on July 20, 1957, in Alliance, Nebraska. She attended a rural country school and junior high school in Hemingford, Nebraska. She graduated from Saint Martin's Academy of the Black Hills, Rapid City, SD in 1975. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in special education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1979 and 1983 respectively. Dr. Foley completed her Doctorate of Education in Special Education at Northern Illinois University in 1989. She had been with the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education in the College of Education and Human Services at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale since August of 1990. She was a full professor in special education program and was an active and productive scholar. Dr. Foley received grant funding at the university, regional, state, and national levels for the advancement of special education curriculum. She published over 34 articles, monographs, and book chapters, and made presentations at over 70 professional conferences for her work in this area. Regina grew up on a farm in western Nebraska, the eldest of six children. Her parents expected much from her, and the rest of the Foley children looked up to her throughout their lives. At the time of her death, she was also guardian and responsible for the care of her aging mother. She was a loving aunt, sister, and daughter, and an avid supporter of her Alma Mater, the University of Nebraska and its Husker football team. She is survived by her mother Thelma Foley of Carbondale, Illinois; four sisters and one brother Martha of Denver, CO, Susanne Fuerst and her husband John Fuerst of Bloomfield, MI, Jane Langemeier and her husband Michael Langemeier of Manhattan, KS, William Foley and his wife Trudyanne of Longs, SC, and Ellen Thomas and her husband Troy Thomas of Shickley, NE; six nieces and three nephews Anna Langemeier, Jane Fuerst, Zachary Fuerst, Olivia Thomas, Mary Langemeier, Christine Langemeier, Alexander Thomas, Victoria Thomas and Thomas Thomas. She was preceded in death by her father Emmett Foley, who passed away in February of 2008. A Funeral Mass of Catholic Burial will be held at 10 a.m Saturday, November 28, 2009, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 724 Mulberry Street in Murphysboro with Father Gary Gummersheimer officiating. A Rosary will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, November 27, 2009 at Pettett Funeral Home, where visitation will follow until 7 p.m. on Friday. Burial will be at Hemingford Cemetery in Hemingford, Nebraska. Memorials may be made to the University of Nebraska Foundation, P.O. Box 82555, Lincoln, NE 68801.

Regina Marie Foley

July 20, 1957 - November 22, 2009