Martha M. Babica

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, March 20, 2026 at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington, where visitation will begin at 10:00 am. Cremation rites have been accorded. Inurnment will immediately follow the service at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Brookfield Zoo.

To share condolences with the family, or view her online tribute, please visit www.eastlawnmemorial.com

She was born June 9, 1943 in Chicago, daughter, Karl W. and Nellie Chapas Abrath. She married Richard Joseph Babica on January 15, 1966, he preceded her in death on February 17, 2022.

Surviving are two children, Kathy (Edwin) Pierce of Bloomington and Richard (Donna) Babica of Bartlett. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Everson, Annellia and Tripper Pierce, Stephanie (Phil) Eide and Greg (Rachel) Wermes; two great-grandchildren, Gracie Eide and Aiden Wermes and two sisters, Carol Swezey of Lake Bluff and Janet Antoine of Arlington, VA.

Martha retired in 2003 after working for 25 years as a teaching assistant for special education classes from the Valley View School District in Bolingbrook.

She enjoyed quilting and was a former Girls Scouts leader. She was also a former commissioner for the City of Bolingbrook and election judge for Will County. Martha stayed very active volunteering for Metcalf and UHigh, sewing for their theater departments and Madrigals and helping with the bake sales. Her greatest enjoyment was her family, who fondly remember her as "Grandma Poe."