Mary S. Conley Kerwin

If anyone ever cared, really cared for someone else it would have to be Mary S. Kerwin. She was a warm hearted and well liked individual, and these wonderful traits came easily to her because she was such a sociable and amiable person, someone who was always making certain that those around her had whatever they needed. Mary was a talkative person who made friends easily and enjoyed meeting many different people.

Mary was born at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois. She was the daughter of Lillian and Thomas J. Conley, Chicago Fire Department. Mary was raised in Chicago, Illinois. During her childhood she learned to be reliable and respectful. She found it easy to show sympathy and to perform kind acts for others. These admirable qualities would become a part of Mary's personality throughout her life.

Though Mary was frequently the one to initiate games and activities with her family, she was also quite often the family member who took the role of referee. Mary was a peace-maker with an ability to resolve all sorts of family conflicts. In fact, Mary worked conscientiously to keep those typical family spats at bay. She had one brother, Thomas J. Conley, whom she was very close to while growing up. Mary and her brother cared deeply for one another and, in fact, shared several friends. She attended Little Flower Grammar school, graduating in 1954. She then graduated from Mercy High School in 1958. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

There is one thing that all of Mary's friends know and will still remember. She enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends. She could pretty much talk to anybody about anything. This quality is one of the primary reasons that Mary was such a popular person throughout her life. But Mary was also dependable, loyal and trustworthy. Mary was the kind of person who simply radiated good fellowship. While she maintained personal standards and her own personal values, Mary was very accepting of others. With a distinct skill for working things out, Mary was often the person who would organize events. When Mary made friends, she made true and lasting friendships. While growing up, some of her best friends were Shirley Donlan, Betty Heery and many friends from her Grammar School. Later in life, she became friends with Pat and Karl Lonask, Al and Daryll Lockhart, Tom and Carol Ring, The Keough families, Connie and Fred DeMott, Ariel Reimer, Thea and Rob Hartz, The Zimbelmanns, The Webers, The Chockleys, and others too numerous to mention.

Mary was a faithful and loving person. She married Andrew Kerwin on May 18,1963, and together they had three children. They eventually settled in Woodridge, Illinois, where they raised their family. Mary was also deeply devoted to her mother, Lillian. They were the best of friends in their adult lives, and Mary was a loving caregiver to her mother.

Harmony was important to Mary and she made every effort to maintain it with her family. Mary was blessed with three children- a son, Andrew, and two daughters, Therese and Laura. She were also blessed with 8 grandchildren: Daniel, Andrew, and Courtney Kerwin, James, Kristin, and Kaylee Zimbelmann, Jenna, and Brendan Larson. Watching her grandchildren grow was one of the things she enjoyed most. Her grandchildren were a great joy to her.

Taking her work seriously came naturally to Mary, and she expected the same from those around her. Mary was a good team player, someone who was born to cooperate with others. She was what some would call a “people person” and it was demonstrated in her good communication skills. Mary was a steady worker, one who was realistic about schedules. The kind of details that would give family members and work colleagues fits were situations that Mary handled well. Her primary occupation later in life was a retail worker. She was employed for many years at her children's school, followed by office work, and then later she worked in various retail stores. She brought harmony to her work environment, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done, while always maintaining respect for her colleagues.

Sporting events were one thing that Mary truly enjoyed. Her greatest joys were watching her children play sports as they grew, and then later attending the activities of her grandchildren. She was a frequent spectator at ice arenas, soccer, baseball, and softball fields, and even the occassional dance recital. She was an avid Chicago Bears fan, and enjoyed watching other Chicago sports teams as well.

While Mary enjoyed watching sports later in life, she participated in sports activities when she was younger. She played volleyball and raquetball when her children were young. She also enjoyed aquatic walking after her heart surgery in 1998.

Because she enjoyed being involved in her children's activities, Mary was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Room Mother, and Team Mom for her kid's sports teams. She truly enjoyed this, and later in life, there were many laughs about the escapades that were encountered during these times.

Her high moral standards and traditional values served Mary well with her faith. Religion and faith were important to her. She was a parishoner at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church where she attended mass regularly. She was well respected because she was such an outgoing individual who sought to help in any manner she could.

While Mary did not travel a lot, she did enjoy traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, and Brookfield, Wisconsin to visit her children and their families. She was especially proud of her son's accomplishments in medicine, and enjoyed going to the hospital with him and meeting his collegues. She also enjoyed boating with her daughter's family in Wisconsin, and she enjoyed the beaches in Florida. She was a frequent visitor to Oswego for family barbeques.

Mary loved animals and cherished her pets. One of her favorites was Barney, a Cocker Spaniel, who was a best friend for 10 years. Her family was rounded out by her dog, Kirby.

Since it was easy for Mary to meet and get to know new people, she quickly made friends, even in retirement. Once she met those new friends, she loved sharing stories and talking about the good old days. Since she was practical and cost effective, Mary was ready when that day to retire finally came in 2008. Her new life involved remaining in Woodridge. In retirement, she found new pleasure in remaing active in her children's and grandchildren's lives. Even in retirement, Mary stayed in touch with her old friends and made plenty of new acquaintances. She was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities that retirement offered her.

Mary passed away on April 18, 2010 at home in Woodridge, Il. She is survived by her children, Andrew, Therese, Laura and her grandchildren, Daniel, Andrew, Courtney, James, Kristin, Kaylee, Jenna, and Brendan. Services were held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Lisle, Illinois. Mary was laid to rest in St. Mary Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois.

Mary was a fantastic conversationalist who could engage just about anyone in a discussion. Mary was down to earth, outgoing, loving and devoted.Mary's family, faith, and friends were the most important things to her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Mary S. Kerwin, 68, nee Conley. Loving daughter of Lillian, and the late Thomas J.

Conley C.F.D.. Beloved mother of Andrew (Tammy) Kerwin, Therese (James)

Zimbelmann, Laura (Chad) Larson. Proud Grandmother of Daniel, Andrew, Courtney,

James, Kristin, Kaylee, Jenna, and Brendan. Dear sister of Thomas J. (Betty) Conley.

Fond aunt of many nieces and nephews. Funeral Friday 9:15 a.m. from the Blake-Lamb

Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Ave. (On Rt 53,1/2 mile south of Ogden Ave./ Rt 34)

Lisle, to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Mass 10:00 a.m., Interment St. Mary

Cemetery, Evergreen Park. Visitation Thursday, 3-8 p.m. In Lieu of flowers,

Masses Appreciated or Memorials to Benet Academy, 2200 Maple, Lisle, Il. 60532.

To celebrate Mary’s life visit www.Blake-LambFuneralHome.com

0r for info: 630-964-9392.