Obituary of Mary R. Dulny Duchene
Mary Dulny Duchene, (nee Bucciarelli), age 95, of Joliet, passed away Monday, August 9, 2021 surrounded by her loving children.
Born in 1926 in Caramanico, Italy and came to the United States at an early age. She met her first husband, Frank, when she worked at the lunch counter at Jahneke Bowling Alley and he was a pin boy at the Bowlera. They were married in 1946, and they went on to own and operate Frank & Mary’s Restaurant, Frank and Mary’s Duo, and Frank and Mary’s Liquor Store, all of which were located on Jefferson Street in Joliet. They were married for 33 years, and were the proud parents of six children. She later married Roy Duchene, Sr. in 1984, and they enjoyed many years together until his passing in June, 2021.
Mary was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She mastered the English language and with that skill served as taxi driver, interpreter, confident and friend to several of the Italian ladies in town who did not speak English. She would cook for anyone and everyone, faithfully visited family and friends in the nursing homes, and there wasn’t a cemetery she didn’t visit with flowers almost every weekend. She was also a Sunshine Lady for her Par Four Court neighborhood. She will be remembered as a fun-loving, “high-heeled” bundle of energy who will certainly be missed and not soon forgotten. Above everything else, however, she was the beloved grandmother and “Noni” to her precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her beloved children, Ann “Sis” (Bob) Sterioti, David (Jennifer) Dulny of Kansas, Susan (Chuck) Skeldon, Mary Lou (Dr. Robert) Larson, and Mike (Toni) Dulny; ten adoring grandchildren, Rob (Wendy) Sterioti, Becky (Dave) Talarico, Shane Skeldon, Kyle (Brianna) Dulny, Brad, Brett, Mandy and Zach Dulny, and Casey and Katie Dulny; ten dear great-grandchildren, Sam and Max Sterioti, David (Samantha), Robert, Joe and Tom Talarico, Nolan, Athena, Margo and Brayden Dulny, another great-grandchild due in February; and her first great-great-granddaughter due in October. Also numerous nieces and nephews especially Terry and Alan Bucciarelli who visited her so often through the years. Mary is also the fond step-mother of Roy (Chris) Duchene, Lori (John) Plese, Paul (Debbie) Duchene, and Steve (Joyce) Duchene; step-grandmother of eight; and step-great-grandmother of ten. Also surviving are her in-laws, Bob Duchene, Rita (Fred) Mattea, and Gayle (James) Tennant.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Frank E. Dulny (1979) and Roy E. Duchene; one son, Greg Dulny; her parents Anthony and Anna (Delrose) Bucciarelli; seven brothers, Alex (Louise), Delso (Dorothy), Herman (Eleanor), Angelo (Dorothy), Ralph, Eugene (Mary) and Billy (Dolores) Bucciarelli; a brother-in-law, Zeke Senekar; and a Sister-in-law, Irene Duchene.
The family would like to thank their hospice nurse and CNA, Melissa and Dajche, and favorite weekly companion/caregiver, Blanca, for the special care provided to Mary.
Visitation for Mary will be held Thursday, August 12, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road, (at Essington Road), Joliet. Further visitation will be Friday morning, from 9:00 until the time of funeral services at 10:00 a.m., at the funeral home. Fr. Chris Groh will officiate. Interment will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
Memorials in her name may be made to Lightways Hospice, (the former Joliet Area Community Hospice), 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431 (www.lightways.org) or Loyola University Medical Center-Burn Center Services.
For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
