Marilyn Ruth Hams, age 86, passed peacefully into eternal life on September 9, 2025. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1939, she was the beloved daughter of the late William and Gladys (née Dastous) Kozla.
Marilyn was a selfless and generous woman who brought warmth and kindness to everyone she met. Deeply devoted to her faith, she carried it with strong strength throughout her life. She was a woman of many passions—traveling the world with her sister Judy, knitting for neonatal units and veterans' organizations, working with ceramics, and always keeping a good book nearby. Her gentle spirit was often accompanied by just the right touch of sass.
She was the loving mother of Jonathan (Barbara Ann) Tucker and Cheryl (Martin) Vargas; proud grandmother of Nathan Tucker, Matthew Tucker, Jason Scheck, Tom Scheck, Daniel (Gina) Vargas, and Jessica (Paul) Lewandowski; and adoring great-grandmother of Danny Jr., Elena, Anthony and Jaxson. Marilyn also leaves behind her cherished sister, Judy Sterbenz and nephews John, Thomas, Timothy and Christopher Sterbenz; and many dear friends whose lives were brighter for having known her. She is preceded in death by her parents and her adoring brother-in-law, John W. Sterbenz, who was her best friend in life and continues to be so in eternity.
Marilyn’s legacy of love, faith, and quiet strength lives on in all who were blessed to know her.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Parish, located at 10 N Buffalo Grove Rd, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089. Funeral Mass to begin at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Mary Parish, Buffalo Grove, Il. Interment will immediately follow at Saint Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Palatine, IL.
