Mary Ellen Sobieraj

Mary Ellen (Gruss) Sobieraj was born on April 28, 1931 in Cicero, Illinois, to William and Evelyn (Hahn) Gruss. She grew up with her brother, William (Dolores) Gruss, and sister, Renée (Gruss) O’Grady, attending St. Frances of Rome School and being active in Girl Scouts.

Mary Ellen’s selfless and nurturing nature drove her to pursue nursing. In 1952, she graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Chicago, where she made many lifelong friends, one of which introduced her to the love of her life. After nursing school, she married Joseph Richard Sobieraj on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1953, at St. Frances of Rome Church in Cicero.

It wasn’t long after their wedding that they started a family. Mary Ellen lovingly raised five children with Joseph - Mary Jo (Edward) Schavitz, Gregory Joseph Sobieraj, the late Paul Joseph Sobieraj, Jo Ellen Sobieraj-Kummerer and Christina Jo (John) Kozlowski. Together, the faith-based family grew, living in the suburbs of Chicago. Mary Ellen easily made many friends in every community.

Mary Ellen enjoyed traveling with her husband and family, enjoying locations as diverse as Rome, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest (which happened to be her all-time favorite). The family loved traveling to see her, too, at her winter homes in Florida.

As much as Mary Ellen liked to travel, she loved spending time with her family even more. It could be something as simple as going to the movies or as grand as taking her entire family on a cruise. As long as family was there, she was happy.

In 2011, almost a decade after her husband passed away, Mary Ellen moved to Villa St. Benedict. She quickly became an active member of the VSB community, never turning down an opportunity to serve. She treasured the friendships she formed over the last eight years, especially those that were cultivated daily in the VSB dining room and while attending daily mass at the Sacred Heart Monastery Chapel.

Mary Ellen fiercely loved her grandchildren, Christie, Tim (Rebecca) , Brent, Emily, Daniel, Joseph and Alexander; always there to give of herself, listen and offer advice.

Mary Ellen bravely fought a two-year battle with cancer, which ended on November 24, 2017. She passed peacefully, with family at her side, from this earthly life to her heavenly life joining those who have gone before her. She will be missed very much by so many.

Lying in State at The Sacred Heart Chapel, Villa St. Benedict on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 from 10 a.m.- 11 a.m, where a Mass of the Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Entombment at Assumption Cemetery, Wheaton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart, 1910 Maple Ave, Lisle, IL 60532. For information, call the Funeral Home at (630) 964-9392.