Mary C. "Sis" Huml served as a nurse in the South Pacific in World War II and then embarked on a 35-year nursing career with Hines VA Hospital.

A 40-year resident of Westchester who moved to Lisle two years ago, Mrs. Huml, 88, died Friday, May 18, of cardiac arrest in her home, said her daughter-in-law, Debbie Huml.

Born Mary Colligan in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Huml had three brothers and acquired her lifelong nickname "Sis" as a girl.

"Her nickname was so appropriate because she was a sister to every one she met," said Mary Ceplecha, a longtime nursing colleague. "Her ability to make friends with anyone she met regardless of how severe his or her situation may be was truly remarkable."

Mrs. Huml graduated from high school in East Brady, Pa., at age 16, one year early, Huml said.

She had already decided on a career, but nursing students had to be at least 18 years old. So, for the next two years, Mrs. Huml took secretarial classes, her daughter-in-law said.

"This is what we find so great about 'Sis,' " Huml said. "Rather than completely squash her dream of being a nurse and helping others, she simply put it on hold and pursued learning another field."

After studying nursing and working in the obstetrics department at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, Mrs. Huml enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in 1942 and shipped off to the South Pacific theater.

"I was so fortunate to have worked with 'Sis' not only at St. Francis Hospital, but also in the Philippine Islands," Ceplecha said.

"I learned so much from her, but probably what I will take away from her most is her sense of humor. Her ability to laugh even when the situation seemed grave was fantastic and kept us all going."

After her service in the war, Mrs. Huml worked for 35 years as a registered nurse at the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital, near Maywood.

One of her grandchildren was born with special needs, and Mrs. Huml established a scholarship fund in her name at the University of Notre Dame for students with special needs or those pursuing a career working with special needs children, her daughter-in-law said.

"She wanted to make it possible for students like [her granddaughter] to get the support and tools they need to lead a productive life," Huml said. "As for Notre Dame, my mother-in-law, just being a gold old Irish Catholic, loved the school."

Mrs. Huml's husband, Milt, died in 1981 after 28 years of marriage.

In addition to her daughter-in-law, she is survived by two sons, Gregory and Dr. Jeffrey; a daughter, Maureen Peoples; a brother, James Colligan; and nine grandchildren.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton, followed by mass at noon in St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 1450 Green Trails Drive, Naperville.