Mary Ann Lawlor

Mary Ann Lawlor passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on October 14, 2023, two weeks shy of her 86th birthday. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and after graduating from St. Augustine Academy in Lakewood, she attended Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan with plans of becoming a nutritionist. Instead, she met the love of her life there, Jack Lawlor.

She married Jack and moved with him to Sarnia, Ontario, where they had three children. They then moved back to the States and had three more children. When her youngest entered kindergarten, Mary Ann went back to school and, while raising six kids, earned her bachelor's degree in education. She eventually opened her own preschool.

Mary Ann was the director of Boulevard Pre-School in Elk Grove Village for fifteen years, where countless kids were nurtured and educated in the Chipmunk Room, the Kangaroo Room, and the Dinosaur Room. All four of her daughters worked there.

In 1984, Mary Ann and Jack bought ten acres in Marengo, Illinois, where they had their own "Green Acres" experience, complete with two horses, some chickens, and a gaggle of ornery geese. They retired to Arizona for a few years, enjoying the sun and golf, but returned to Arlington Heights because they missed their grandkids too much. Mary Ann and Jack were also great bridge partners and won several tournaments together.

Mary Ann always believed strongly in service to others. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels in Marengo and was the director of Outreach Ministry at St. Edna's, serving the poor, the homeless, and those in need of emergency financial assistance.

Family was everything to Mary Ann. She was never happier than when surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and their spouses. Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Jack; her children, Karen (John) Brennan, Jeff (Debra), Janet (Jerome) McDonnell, Debra (Bill) Fisher, Donna (Lizz Johnstone), and David (Jane); her grandchildren, Mary Brennan, Emily Ramos, Jack Brennan, Kelsey Jasso, Katie Lawlor, Sam and Owen McDonnell, Theresa Fisher, Julie Jordan, Olivia and Claire Hoette, and Liam Lawlor; her brother Arthur Dillemuth.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Bernard Dillemuth.

Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 pm, Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd. 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004 and on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at St. Edna Catholic Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL from 9:00 am until time of Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. Interment following at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine, IL.