Mary F. Gasparich

Mary Francis (nee Pekar) Gasparich, 88, passed away peacefully at Willow Falls Assisted Living on May 26, 2014 after battling cancer recurrence for 2 years. She was a 16 year lymphoma survivor. Mary was born on December 8, 1925 in Joliet, IL to the late John Pekar and Anna (Medvesky) Pekar. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother John Pekar (2004), sister Margaret (Pekar) Vargocko (2009) and brother Raymond Pekar (2013). A lifelong resident of Joliet Mary attended St. Cyril's Catholic School and Joliet Central High School. Mary worked for Allied Van Lines in Chicago, a subsidiary of IBM (1943-1953). She was the supervisor of their entire secretarial department for all divisions. Mary's claim to fame was her mathematical skills and speed in stenography and typing. She married Thomas Edward Gasparich on June 18, 1949 at St Cyril's Catholic Church. They were married 60+ years before his death on February, 28, 2010. In raising 5 children Mary was heavily involved with the St Mary's Nativity Catholic School Mother's Club. She participated in a monthly sewing and knitting club in which she knitted beautiful sweaters for all of us. She enjoyed hosting family gatherings for both the Pekar and the Gasparich families. Mary loved the Lord with her whole heart and loved her neighbor as herself. She always had a smile for everyone. Mary was a phenomenal cook and baker. She was an avid reader and preached education. Mary was the happiest when she was enjoying time with her grandchildren. Her whole family celebrated the year 2000 millennium at Disney World. After retirement in 1986 she and Tom were snow birds for 19 years in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Mary is survived by her brother, Edward Pekar, her beloved 5 children, Mary Ellen (John) Hendricks, LeAnn (Bill) Tatro, Tom (Deborah) Gasparich, Christine (Dennis) Coil and Tim (Kathryn) Gasparich. She was an incredibly loving grandmother to 14 grandchildren: Anne (Christopher) Cliff, Matthew (Sarah) Raino, Lauren (Mark) Iwaszko, Adam Tatro, Allison Raino, Daniel Coil, Dana (David) Bowman, Eric (Deanna Bisconti) Coil, Kasey Gasparich, Luke Gasparich, Brent Gasparich, Shelly (Tom) Kutcher, Colette Hendricks and Christy (Gary) Savage. Mary was blessed with 7 great-grandchildren: Peter Cliff, Anna Iwaszko, Ellen Cliff, Moses Raino, Alexander Kutcher, Nicole Kutcher and Katelynn Savage. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Mary's memory to St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church Educational Endowment 706 N Broadway St Joliet, IL 60435. A special thank you to the entire staff of Willow Falls Assisted Living for their loving, supportive, kind and compassionate care. Thank you Vitas Hospice for providing comfort care and preserving Mary's dignity. Thank you to Alicia, Mary's full time care giver for the last 8 weeks of her life. A Celebration of Mary's life will begin on Saturday, June 7, 2014 with prayers in the funeral home chapel at 9:20 a.m. then driving in procession to St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church in Joliet for a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Mary Nativity Cemetery in Crest Hill. Visitation will be on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet, Illinois from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.