Obituary of Mary Lou Niznik

Mary Lou Niznik Age 83, peacefully entered into eternal life on Monday, January 30, 2017 from her home in Plainfield, IL. Born Mary Lou Perona on September 27, 1933 in Joliet, IL. Mary Lou worked as a Certified Medical Technician in Chicago and later received a Bachelor of Arts degree Summa cum laude from College of St. Francis Joliet, IL in 1978. She was beautiful, loving and witty woman, who lived life with grace and purpose. She inspired everybody she met, especially students of the Plainfield school system where she was a generous art teacher for 20 years. She enjoyed nurturing creativity in others. And herself. Mary Lou was a highly creative and clever DIYer, decades before it became popular. She put her interior design skills to use remodeling homes to showroom quality. She designed and sewed exquisite coats and dresses for her only granddaughter, Natalie. Her theatrical Halloween themes were an annual event for Plainfield trick or treaters, with the entire family in her handcrafted costumes. It started as a family birthday party for her eldest grandson, Mario. Mary Lou lived her entire life in Illinois, but was drawn to the water. It made her Irish blue eyes sparkle even more. She and her husband, Gilbert, spent much of their summers at their Lake Geneva house in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. She loved sailing and watching the sunsets from the pier with all of their grandkids around. She and Gilbert also enjoyed their favorite resort in Siesta Key, Florida for many winters. Always the caring and loving wife, mother and grandmother, she will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Gilbert L. Niznik; her children, Maria K.(Paul) Behnen, Julie A. (Dino)Persico and Riley F. (Suzanne) Niznik; her grandchildren, Mario and Anthony Persico, Louis and Natalie Behnen, Gavin and Jarrett Niznik. Preceded by her parents and her son, Christopher L. Niznik. The family will be holding a private memorial at a later date. They would like to thank Villa Franciscan in Joliet, along with Joliet Area Community Hospice. Memorials in her name can be made to Joliet Area Community Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle Joliet, IL 60431 For further information please call Fred C. Dames Funeral Home at 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com