Obituary of Mary Ann Kish
Late Mary Ann Margaret (Smith) Kish of Joliet, Illinois passed away 5 July 2026 at the of eighty-seven years. After several months of declining health, she died peacefully surrounded by her beloved family.
She was born at St. Joseph's Hospital on Broadway in Joliet, Illinois on the 9 November 1938 to the late Valentine and Marcella (Rutkowski) Smith as the youngest daughter of four older brothers. She was the child of polish immigrant and grew up in the polish community of Joliet, Illinois. There she attended Holy Cross Grad School and graduated from Joliet Central High School in 1957. Mary attended St. Stephen's Hungarian Chapel of Joliet until it burnt down, then Holy Cross Catholic Church.
On 16 July 1960 at Holy Cross in Joliet, Mary married her sweetheart late John Kish (Janos Kiss) and had three children. Together, they were married sixty-four years. She worked many jobs throughout her life while caring for her children and granddaughters.
Mary will be remembered for her kindness and short to temper. She loved to collect things and started an expansive collection of Barbies and dolls. Mary began a hobby with her late sister-in-law and best friend, Judy, crafting and going to shows in the late 90's and early 2000's. She even introduced her granddaughter into crafting. She loved to go to the movies and listen to music, especially country and Elvis. Mary travelled with her late husband throughout the country and occasionally to Europe. They took their children and eventually their grandchildren on their vacations. Along with her late husband, she too was a member of the Prison City Chapter of BCCA and collected beer cans. She was also a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church of Shorewood, Illinois.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, John; parents, Valentine and Marcella Smith; brothers, Baby Boy Smith, Raymond (Ray) Smith, Richard (Dick) Smith, Leo Lavern (Vern) Smith, and Frank Smith (age 2); and her sister-in-law and best friend, Judy Waltraud Smith. She is survived by her sons, John Kish and Andrew Kish; daughter, Kathleen (Bud) White; granddaughters, Jennifer (Seth) Williams and Jasmine Kish; and great-grandchildren, Abram, Evelyn, Silas, and Asa. Mary is also survived by nephews, Frank of Florida, and Stephen of Missouri; her nieces, Judy Ann of California, and Monica of Arizona, and Linda of Illinois, as well as great-nephews and nieces.
Per her wishes, Mary Ann will be cremated with private family services.
"I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Louis and in your mother Eunice and, I persuaded, now lives in you also," 2 Timothy 1:5
For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at
www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave a condolence.
