Obituary of Mary Catherine Calahan
Mary Catherine Calahan, nee Krieger, age 95, of Joliet, passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 9, 2021 at home, with her loving family by her side.
Born November 6, 1925 in Joliet, she was the daughter of Henry A. and Catherine (Aschenbrenner) Krieger, and was a graduate of St. Patrick Grade School and attended Joliet Township High School.
She married the love of her life, Donald J. Calahan, and they enjoyed 73 years of marriage until his passing November 4, 2019.
Mary’s first job was at Andy’s Candies in downtown Joliet, where she met her future husband and friends after school. While raising her family, she was a homemaker but helped out part-time at the candy store during the holidays. She later worked for Hart Shaffner & Marx and Rust Craft Greeting Card Company.
A loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she will be remembered for her sewing and baking skills. The Christmas holidays were always made more special by her Christmas cookies which her family and friends still talk about. She was also a member of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church.
Mary is survived by her two loving daughters, Kathleen (the late Edward) Benesh and Patricia (John) Czajkoski; four adoring grandchildren, Edward (Stephanie) Benesh, Jr., Mary (Mark) Joyce, Robert (Katherine) Benesh and John (Christine) Czajkoski, Jr.; eleven dear great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter, Susan Haake; two great-grandchildren in infancy; her parents; six sisters, Frances (Daniel) Putthoff, Leona (John) Crowe, Louise (Arnold) Heintzelman, Lucille (Armund) Cormier, Virginia (Peter) Scholtest, and Loraine Krieger in infancy; and two brothers, Donald (Helen) Krieger and Norbert (Roselind) Krieger.
Visitation for Mary Calahan will be held Friday, October 15, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11:00 a.m., at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road, Joliet. Interment will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
