Mary Jane Weiss, of Des Plaines, IL, passed away peacefully, on February 9, 2018 at Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights. She was 86.
Mary Jane Weiss was born on October 2, 1931 to William F. and Mildred K. (nee Fitzgerald) Voss. October 2nd is the Feast of the Guardian Angels, a date of which she felt very blessed to share. She attended St. Anthony’s Elementary and St. John’s Cathedral High School in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette University in 1952 with a BS in Sociology. She was a member of Delta Zeta social sorority and Delta Sigma Epsilon Honorary Sociology sorority. Married in 1957, Mary Jane proceeded to teach elementary school in Milwaukee, Evanston and Des Plaines, retiring as a stay-at-home mom. She loved to teach, and never missed an opportunity to share her knowledge and abilities with her students, children and grandchildren. As an active member of the AAUW, she chaired the feasibility study for Oakton Community College. Because of her team’s recommendation, Oakton CC became a reality and currently has an annual enrollment of nearly 12,000 students offering Associate degrees in over 80 areas of study. Mary Jane was also President of the PTA at Cumberland Elementary and Chippewa Junior High Schools. In addition, Mary Jane started the “Picture Lady program” at Cumberland, which involved volunteer mothers presenting famous works of art in the classrooms to discuss with the children. She was a member of the Des Plaines historical society, a board member of United Way, and a CCD teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. For the past 30 years, she and her husband, Art, wintered in Scottsdale, where Mary Jane volunteered her time and efforts to the Christ Child Society of Phoenix, a charity dedicated to serving children in need. Mary Jane’s passions included culture, nature, travel, writing, and giving back to the community. And above all of this, she was a great Mom. We will love her forever and miss her tremendously.
Mary Jane is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Arthur R., their two sons, James R. (Renee) of Fontana, WI and Peter A. (Laura) of Arlington Heights, IL, their grandsons, Timothy, Zachary and John, sister of Carol (the late William, M.D.,) Blazek, the late William Voss, and the late Gloria (Larry) Beyer, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation Friday, February 16, 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Friedrichs Funeral Home, 320 W. Central Rd. (at Northwest Highway), Mt. Prospect, IL 60056. Funeral Mass Saturday February 17, 10:00 a.m. at St. Emily Church, 1400 E. Central Rd., Mt. Prospect, IL 60056. Interment All Saints Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Christ Child Society of Phoenix, 4633 N. 54th Street, Phoenix, AZ. 85018; www.christchildsocietyphoenix.org.