Mary Jean (Kelly) Filipek

Mary Jean Filipek (Kelly) age 97, peacefully passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2023. Mary was born May 26, 1926 in Friend, Nebraska to William and Katherine (Woulf) Kelly. 
Mary was married to her beloved husband Frank Filipek for 58 years.  He preceded her in death on March 6, 2008.  They had 2 loving sons, Jim (Mary) from Kankakee, IL and Tom (Beth) from Fairfield Township, OH. Mary was the proud Grandmother of Brad (Dana) Filipek, the late Megan Filipek, Katie (Justin) Klusas, Dawn (John) Nagel, Heather Hamilton and Chris (Betsy) Benoit.  She adored being GiGi to Mason, Avery & Faith Filipek, Ben, Claire & Michael Klusas, Ava & Adam Nagel, Cole, Luke and Beckett Hamilton, Will, Katie, Charlie, Jacob, Margaret and Louis Benoit. Loving Aunt to her special nieces Kathy (Don) Robson & Marilyn Smith. She is also survived by many great nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Megan Filipek in 2006 and her siblings Marcella (Walt) Niemann, Don (Billie) Kelly, Madeline Tosland, Jerry Kelly and Patrick (Patti) Kelly.

At a young age Mary moved with her parents from Friend, Nebraska, to Chicago, Il. That is where she met her husband, Frank. They were united in marriage on Oct 15, 1949.  They were blessed with 2 sons who they raised in the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood of Chicago.  In 1984 Mary & Frank moved to Downey, California to be near her siblings. Mary worked for Rockwell International and was proud to have been the secretary to those who worked on the NASA Space Shuttle.

In 2004 Mary & Frank moved to Kankakee, IL to be close to family.  In 2019 Mary moved to Majestic Care Assisted Living (formerly The Pavilion) in Fairfield, Ohio.  She made many new friends and participated and enjoyed many fun activities while also spending time with family.

Mary was a fighter and enjoyed life to the very end. Her favorite things to do were playing bingo, going to the casino, playing cards, games with family and friends, watching baseball & celebrating her favorite holiday, St. Patrick’s Day.  Most of all Mary loved being with family and was a proud Mom, Grandma & GiGi.  Her family was everything to her.

The family would like to thank the staff at Majestic Care Assisted Living and DaVita Dialysis for all their wonderful care, compassion & kindness.

The family is planning a visitation 11:30-12:30, followed by a Memorial Mass, on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at St. Faustina Kowalska Parish (Former St. Jane de Chantal), 5252 S. Austin Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60638. Mary will be laid to rest with her husband at The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.

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