Obituary of Mary Larkin

Mary C. Larkin (nee Whitmer) Mary C. Larkin (nee Whitmer), age 68, passed away July 26, 2015 at Morris Hospital surrounded by her loving children. She is survived by two daughters, Katie (Ken) Nelson of Joliet, Colleen (Art) Arias of Diamond and one son, Robert W. Larkin of Morris. Mary was the much-loved and adored Grandma to seven grandchildren, Nicolas Arias, Ezequiel Arias, Junior Arias, Maxwell Arias, Alexia Arias, Amanda Nelson and Molly Nelson. Mary was born on April 27, 1947 to the late Harry and Lois (Singletary) Whitmer in Grand Rapids, MI. She was a graduate of St. Patrick Grade School and St. Francis Academy, Class of 1965. On Oct. 16, 1965, Mary married Robert E. "Bob" Larkin at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Joliet. While married for nearly fifty years, they raised their family in Joliet before moving to the homestead they loved in Morris. Together they established their farming business throughout the Joliet, Minooka and Morris areas. Mary worked as a telephone supervisor at Illinois Bell. As she and Bob started a family, her greatest joy became being a homemaker and devoted mother. The love for her family she exhibited every day through her nurturing, attentiveness and laughter. Also surviving are two sisters, Jane (Joseph) Riggs of Joliet and Beth (Theodore) Poplawski of Shorewood, one brother, William (Mary) Whitmer of Joliet, one brother-in-law, Donald (Jo Beth) Larkin of Minooka and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob (November 8, 2014), brothers-in-law, Bernard (the late Mary) Larkin, Ronald Larkin, and step-mother, Jean (Kaffer) Whitmer. Mary was a long time parishioner of the Church of St. Jude. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Mary's oncology team at JOHA in Morris, especially her two outstanding nurses, Shannon and Lisa. Funeral services for Mary C. Larkin will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 9:15 a.m. from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet, to the Church of St. Jude for Mass at 10:00 a.m. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. Visitation Friday, 2-8 p.m. at the funeral home.