Queen of Martyrs Catholic School

“The Griegels have dedicated countless hours of service to Queen of Martyrs School and St. Gianna Parish for over 50 years,” said Queen of Martyrs Principal Stephen Davidson. “Their story truly is "The Martyrs Story" raising their children in a great community and providing a tremendous witness to others with a life of service."

Mike and Eleanor have shared their story with us and we are honored to share it with our community.

After growing up in South Chicago, Eleanor and Mike Griegel, newly married, purchased their home on Avers Avenue and joined Queen of Martyrs Parish in March of 1972 where they would raise their three children: Kevin, Michele, and John. Their first foray in parish service was through the Cub Scout program. The Griegel’s oldest son, Kevin, joined Pack 3637 and Eleanor became a Cub Scout Den Leader. Mike eventually became the troop’s Cub Master with both Eleanor and Mike helping to advance the scouting program at QM.

Firmly rooted in the parish, Eleanor and Mike continued to help assist various parish organizations. In the early 1980s Mike called Bingo and Eleanor volunteered at school as a room mother. Mike also became the president of the Holy Name Society and helped organize the QM men’s basketball and softball leagues.

In 1983, Mike took over his daughter Michele’s 5th grade basketball team and coached the girl’s team for the next four years. His teams were very successful and in 1987, his 8th grade girls’ team won the Southwest Catholic Conference School championship and ended the season with a record of 82-3. The team’s trophies are on display in the school trophy case.

During this time, Eleanor began working as a substitute teacher at QM School and was hired as the permanent teacher in the first grade in 1985, when their youngest son, John, started at QM. Eleanor taught first grade at QM for 18 rewarding years. Eleanor and Mike’s service to the parish extended beyond their kids’ activities. They began serving as Eucharistic Ministers in 1987 and can still be seen distributing the Eucharist during Mass. Additionally, they co-chaired the QM Carnival with Ann and Ed Quinlan in 1985 and co-chaired the bicentennial fundraiser with Kay and Jim McKeever in 2002 raising $700,000. Both events were extremely successful fundraisers for the parish.

In the 1980’s, Eleanor and Mike joined the Garden Club and devoted much time and effort to ensuring that the landscaping around the church and school was well-maintained and beautiful. Almost 30 years later, they are still active in the QM garden, pulling weeds, and planting flowers. Their work with the garden club even helped coordinate six Eagle Scout landscape projects at the QM campus over the years.

“Queen of Martyrs and St. Gianna Parish has been our home for over 50 years.  We love being here and working with the parish family to keep it the welcoming and sustaining environment it has been for years, said Mike and Eleanor.