Mary Joan Melody

Mary Joan Melody, 89, of Naperville, IL, and formerly of Woodridge, IL, peacefully passed away on September 29, 2026, with her devoted family at her side. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, October 13 from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Avenue in Lisle. A funeral mass will follow at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 820 Division Street in Lisle, with interment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside.

Born November 5, 1936, in Chicago, IL, to Henry and Ann (nee Harwell) Swaim, Mary graduated from Spencer High School. She married James Melody, the love of her life, on June 11, 1960, and together they established their home and family in Woodridge.

Throughout her life, Mary cherished movie watching with James, maintaining a deep appreciation for classic cinema. She relished in exploring new dining establishments and sampling diverse cuisines. Mary loved planning the annual family summer vacations that always included plenty of snacks for the car. After retiring from Ace Hardware in 1996 and moving to Florida, Mary and James enjoyed travels from the Great Lakes to Florida. Later adding Europe to her travels, with her most memorable and adventurous travels to Scotland and Ireland; treasuring the sites and her favorite treats of scones and Irish soda bread.

Christmas held a special place in Mary’s heart. She and James would adorn their home with multiple Christmas trees and festive decorations, transforming it into a warm gathering space for their family. Mary’s greatest joy came from celebrating the holiday surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as she devoted herself to creating magical, memorable moments that would be cherished for years to come.

Above all, Mary was a devoted mother. She dedicated much of her life to caring for her son Jimmy, whose needs were at the center of her life. Her love and commitment to him were unwavering, and she was always there to care for him, support him, and make sure he was loved. Her devotion to Jimmy was a beautiful reflection of the depth of love she had for her family.

Mary is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of 66 years, James Melody; her children Jackie (Richard Razabdouski) Zaleski, Jeff (Bonita Bligh) Melody, Mike (Nicole Frigerio) Melody, Christopher (Zeena) Melody, and Cindy Jackson; her grandchildren Paul Zaleski, Jen Zaleski, Nic Zaleski, Charlie Melody, Joe Melody, Daniel Melody, Bre Melody, Jonah Melody, William Jackson, and Ethan Jackson; and her great-grandchildren Leo, Henry, Milo, Angie, Jimmy, John, Julia, Betsy, Sam and Wesley.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Jimmy Melody, and her siblings Gerald Swaim and Barbara Smith. Although she is no longer by their side, the love she shared with her husband and family will never fade.

Mary is gone from our sight, never from our hearts.