Gloria Kenny Jones, 76, of Elmhurst, a noted medical illustrator, nurse and creator of the Heart Attack and Stroke exhibit for Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, died Monday, Jan. 15, in Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Jones created the exhibit in the 1960s and soon was invited back to refurbished the museum’s popular walk-through heart exhibit.
An Elmhurst resident for 47 years, Mrs. Jones was born in Schenectady, N.Y.
Educated at the Art Institute of Chicago and Southern Methodist University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in art, Mrs. Jones specialized in three-dimensional models used by educators to teach defects of the heart. She earned her credentials as a certified medical artist from the University of Illinois Medical School.
While recognized as an expert in medical illustration, Mrs. Jones in 1970 obtained a degree in nursing from Elmhurst College. In her second career, she focused on psychiatric nursing, physical assessment, patient education, long-term care, emergency care and coronary care.
Her illustrations were rewarded with numerous awards from the Illinois State Medical Society, American Medical Association and American College of Cardiology. She also won the Meritorious Service Award from the Chicago Heart Association and Distinguished Alumni Award at Stephens College, from where she received an associate’s of arts degree.
A member of the Elmhurst Art Guild, Mrs. Jones continued her post-graduate work in art at Elmhurst College. Her interest in sculpture continued beyond her retirement and many friends became recipients of her work.
Mrs. Jones is survived her husband of 50 years, Arthur; three daughters, Carolyn Filak, Cheryl Carroll and Gail Cervantes; a son, Bruce; five grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and a brother, Vernon Kenney.
Visitation will be from noon with services at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Pedersen-Ryberg Mortuary, 435 N. York St., Elmhurst.
