Obituary of Marie Josephine Reddy
Marie Josephine Reddy
(nee Crawley)
Age 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home surrounded by the love of her family. Born August 3, 1928, in Kankakee, IL, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Laura (nee Marcotte) Crawley. Marie graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy, Class of 1946, and attended two years at St. Francis College in Joliet, IL.
Marie married John Reddy in 1949 and the two started off as farmers in Frankfort, Herscher, and Essex, before moving to Joliet, IL, in 1954. Marie and John camped throughout the United States with their children and traveled extensively in retirement, including two trips to the Holy Land. Marie was active in her parish, St. Patrick Catholic Church, and amongst her many duties, volunteered as a Eucharistic Minister and looked forward to counting offertories on Mondays. She also volunteered at St. Patrick’s Catholic School library, with the Joliet Catholic Grade School band, and as a Cub Scout den mother. She would accompany John to numerous nature and wildlife activities, involving Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Will County Audubon Society, and the Will County Forest Preserve. Marie also served as an election judge for many years. Marie greatly enjoyed playing games, and was known for her, “Ohh what the heck”, risks she would take to win at cards. Marie, after being afraid of water for many years, learned to swim late in life and was an avid member of the Y. When moving out of her home at age 85, she made sure that she would have regular access to “the water” and could be found at the Senior Star pool before 7 am most mornings. Marie settled in quickly at Senior Star and was relied upon to help new arrivals feel at home.
A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she will be missed. Marie stood as the matriarch of her family for many years and put great effort into staying in touch with her nieces and nephews. She will live in our hearts forever.
Marie is survived by one son, Bernard (Linda); two daughters, Joan (Greg Boris) Reddy and Janet (Dan) Schalk; one son-in-law, Mike (late Marilyn) Weidman; five grandchildren, Brendan
(Johanna Mendillo) and Megan (Benjamin Linton) Reddy, Kate (Matt) Cheyne, Caroline
Boris, and Emily (Tim) Dalton; three great-grandsons, Joshua Weidman, Braeden Reddy Linton, and William Cheyne; one great-granddaughter, Mavis Reddy; two great-granddaughters arriving later in 2018; and her sister, Esther Conway. Several cousins and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John (2011); son, Leo (1979); daughter, Marilyn (2015); and siblings, Margaret (Crawley) Dumas and Albert Crawley.
Funeral Services for Marie Reddy will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 9:15 a.m. from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet, to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 710 W. Marion St., Joliet, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Wilmington. Memorials in her name to Joliet Area Community Hospice would be appreciated. Visitation will be held on Friday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. A remembrance event will be held this spring and will be announced at a later date. For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
