Evalena Mary Dillow

Loving wife to Clarence Cunningham and James Dillow, proud mother to Sharon, Victoria, Lisa and Patrick, loving grandmother to her seven grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Mary Dillow lived 102 amazing years and had an extraordinary life. She was an incredibly smart and strong woman with a great sense of humor. She had a bright smile that could light up the room and she smiled a lot. Mary was born in Southern Indiana and had two brothers and one sister, plus two half-brothers and two half-sisters. She grew up on a farm and loved to play basketball, dance and read. She married Clarence Cunningham in 1943 and they had four children together before his untimely death at the age of 35. At the time, Mary did not have a driver’s license, as was common for women of that time, but she had her tenacity and fierce determination. She learned to drive and found a steady job to support her four young children. She raised them with love and courage and some help from God and friends. In 1968 she met, fell in love with, and married Jim Dillow. They had 35 wonderful years together, dancing and traveling the country (all 50 states) while camping.

Mary Dillow will be remembered as a strong, resilient, witty and wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was an inspiration and a treasure to her entire family. We will miss her and remember her for all time.

A visitation for Mary will be held on February 19, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Kuiper Funeral Home, 9039 Kleinman Road, Highland, IN 46322. A prayer service will take place at 4:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 525 North Broad Street, Griffith, IN 46319, with a visitation at 9:30 am before Mass. Burial at Calumet Park Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.KuiperFH.com for the Dillow family.