Mary Elizabeth Callaghan
Mary Elizabeth Callaghan, age 67, formerly of Western Springs, passed away peacefully on December 8th, 2022 after her courageous battle with glioblastoma. Devoted wife of 33 years to Michael Salvatore Callaghan; loving mother of Patrick Michael (Megan) and Kathryn Mary. Beloved sister of William (Dawn), Barbara Butts, Donald (Bonnie), Constance (Mark) Sanders and Therese (Carl) Jessen. Preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Joan (née Kautenburger) Kraul.
Mary graduated from Illinois State University, 1977 and earned an MBA from Loyola University. She was the Director of finance at Nazareth Academy for 24 years.
Mary enjoyed spending time with her family and her community. She was a docent at Brookfield Zoo and a finisher in the 2017 Chicago Marathon. Mary was an avid bicyclist, seamstress, world traveler, and nature photographer.
Visitation will be held 3-9pm on Friday, December 16th at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St, Countryside, IL 60525. Visitation will be held at 10-11am on Saturday, December 17th and Funeral Mass at 11am at St. John of the Cross, 5005 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558. Those unable to attend in person, can view the livestream at: https://www.facebook.com/sjcwesternsprings/live
The family asks that donations and memorials in Mary’s name be directed to: Sr. Constance Kraul Memorial, CSJ Scholarship at 1209 Ogden Ave, La Grange Park, IL 60526. Funeral information: 708-352-6500
Mike – Bill – Dawn and your entire wonderful family – that you have each other is a comfort.
Many prayers and loving thoughts contained within this small message.
Love Marge
My condolences to Mike and Patrick and Katie. I worked with Mary and she helped me a great deal but more importantly her smile and friendship was a gift.
Not everyone gets to reflect on their teenage years as a good time but, if Mary Kraul was your friend you do. Though we eventually lost track of one another, I was greatly saddened to hear of her passing – you just knew as long as Mary was in the world it was a happier better place. My condolences to her family.
Rene Hoben Galli
Mary we will love you always ,
Meeting you and Mike when we moved next door was a tru blessing.
We will always have bistro night !
Love always
Chris and karn
My deepest sympathy to Mary’s family. My heart hurts to think of her passing. We met at ISU and lived together in a crazy house on Fell St. We had great adventures and made wonderful memories. Our reunions after our graduation were priceless times. RIP my friend! You are forever a 1977 ISU Fell St. Fox! ❤
Love JoEllen
The following I prepared to read at Mary’s funeral.
I had shared many life experiences with Mary, from age 5 when we were both in kindergarten, to age 67 which we both turned this past September. I knew Mary through out elementary school, high school, college, as newlyweds, young mom’s raising our two small children, empty nesters and finally retirement, which Mary just started to enjoy, before her diagnosis. I do not take credit for this long friendship as it was Mary’s loving and tenacious character that kept our relationship alive and well. Mary had a way of jumping straight into your heart, filling it with encouragement and never letting go. She was a genuine friend. Hundreds of memories of Mary have flooded my mind these past few months. I will share a few of them.
The first 2 memories, were when we were in high school. Sadly, Mary had moved from Berwyn to Galesburg, Illinois in 8th grade. This would be a tough move for any adolescent. But we wrote letters to one another every week and got together on an occasional weekend. One weekend, I took the train to stay with Mary’s family in Galesburg. Mary and her older brother Bill, were waiting at the train station to pick me up. The confusion on their faces as I disembarked from the train was a look I’ll never forget. I had a large suitcase the size of Texas stuffed with clothes and board games in one hand. In the other hand, I had a massive Salon style hair dryer in it’s carrying case, dimensions 2 by 3 ft. Millennials, google hair dryers of the 60s for this visual. It involved wearing a huge plastic bonnet with a long thick tube attached to a console at one end and the bonnet at the other. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t compact by any means. Mary said “Cindy you’re only here for two days! What the heck!” Poor Bill was like ‘I don’t know what all that stuff is. I’m not sure I want to know. I’m not even sure I have room for it in my car.” The Kraul family teased me the entire weekend. This family knew how to laugh at absurdity. At the wake Friday night, Connie reminded me “Didn’t you also set your hair with soup cans?!” Thank you for that Connie. You are my new Mary!!
A few months later Mary’s family came back to Berwyn for a visit. Mary was sleeping over at my house and we went to a party that Saturday night. Chet and Mabel, my parents, were hosting bridge at our home. Well, Mary and I were drinking at the said party, but let me be perfectly clear, we were NOT experienced drinkers. We probably split a beer and thought we were drunk. But when we returned home to my house for the night my mom intercepted us at the front door. My acting skills kicked into gear. So far so good Mary, I thought, we’re in the clear. And then Mary started to laugh uncontrollably and COULD NOT STOP! My mom leaned into me and whispered “Are you girls drunk?” I replied “Mom, of course not!” She quickly sent us up to my room, as she had five couples waiting on her to resume their bridge game. Well, Ray and Joan Kraul, Mary’s parents, were one of those couples. To this day I believe my mom spared Ray and Joan the news of what Mary and I were up to. But I got grounded the next day. It was worth it Mary!
In college I received a long letter from Mary. Her father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at age 47. A month later he passed away, Joan now raising six children on her own. I’ll never forget that drive from Macomb, where I was attending WIU, to Galesburg, for the funeral. It was only an hour long but it seemed to take forever to get to that funeral home. As soon as Mary and I made eye contact we ran into each other’s arms, as I did Friday night at Mary’s wake with Bill, Barb, Don, Connie and TC. .
35 years ago my husband and I moved to Michigan. Mary and I kept our friendship alive, attending a class reunion together and meeting with our children to play, whenever I came home to visit my parents. Two years ago, Mary and I met at a restaurant in this area. I didn’t know this would be the last time I would physically see her. As we sat at the table, catching up with the events of our lives and our children’s accomplishments, Mary commented on the shoebox I had on the table. I replied, “Mary, you aren’t going to believe this. I was going through an old box of high school mementos. I came across every letter you ever wrote to me! I kept them all! Side note, if you are from Berwyn, YOU SAVE EVERYTHING! Mary’s eyes welled up with tears. My fellow Berwynite opened her purse and pulled out a bag of letters that I had written to her over the years!! We sat at that table for hours reading every last letter out loud, again, Mary giggling uncontrollably. Boy crushes, our grades, teachers, prom, our athletic endeavors, everything an adolescent struggles through.
My prayer for you is that you have the blessing of at least one true friend such as a Mary in your life. I thank God every day that he brought Mary into mine. It was so much richer because of her.
Cindy,
Thank you for sharing your precious memories. They bring a smile to our faces and warm our hearts. Thank you, too for being with us last weekend. Having you there helps bring comfort and to remember Mary and her spirited life. You will always be her dear friend. Love, TC
Both sad and happy moments bring family together. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with your family at Mary’s funeral.
Dear Mike and family:
We were so sorry to learn of Mary’s passing. We enjoyed getting to know your family during our time as Naz parents, and remember Mary as a kind, considerate friend. We will remember her and your family in our prayers.
With our prayers and condolences,
Kevin, Michele, Sean (Naz 2010) and Patrick (Naz 2011) Owens
Saw Mary’s name in the Nazareth Academy newsletter, In Memoriam. Sad to hear this news and sending strength to her family and friends. Beautiful tributes for a kind woman and great colleague.
Tracy Hough
Naz alum and former staff