Mary V. Stevens Hofer Obituary
Mary Stevens Hofer, 68, of Tinley Park, Illinois, died April 22, 2022 at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Center in Joliet, Illinois. She was born on May 9th, 1953 in Chicago, the daughter of Edward J. Stevens and Margaret E. (Gellan) Stevens. She graduated from Little Flower High School in 1971 and attended George Williams College, graduating from Western Illinois University with a major in Physical Education. Mary married Dr. Stephen F. Hofer on August 13, 1994. Mary taught in the Archdiocese of Chicago schools and taught children with special needs at the Park Lawn School in Oak Lawn.
Hers was a very special calling and she was blessed with infinite patience and humor in teaching the profoundly handicapped. She enjoyed and excelled in all sports, and was swimming up until the week she died. Her hobbies were traveling, antiquing and re-selling, and she loved to go to the casino where she claimed she always won. Mary was generous in spirit and in deed and was always willing to help those in need. Her final act of generosity was to donate her body to medical science. Mary is survived by her loving husband, Steve, her stepchildren, Philip (Michele) Hofer and Suzanne (James) Wiltgen.
She was Nana to John, Elena, and Claudia Wiltgen. Mary has four surviving siblings: Edward (Roberta) Stevens, Peggy (the late David) Brown, Thomas (Sandra) Stevens, and Maureen (William) Murley. She had a special relationship with her 15 nieces and nephews as she took them "boozin' and carousing" (ice cream cones) when they were very young. She will be remembered fondly by many grand nieces and nephews. Her loving, joyous spirit and her special Rice Krispie Treats made her Auntie Mary to many families, including the Diminikovich and Spacucello families.
She is predeceased by her parents, Edward and Margaret, and by her sister, Kathleen (the late John) Yoder and her nephew, Jack Yoder. Special thanks to special friend, Madelene Spacucello, Dr.Tabraiz Mohammed at Silver Cross Hospital, and the hospice staff at Lightways. Memorial visitation Friday, May 13th from 3:00 p.m. until time of memorial service, 7:00 p.m. with the Reverend Peter Siwek officiating at the KERRY FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CARE CENTER, 7020 West 127TH Street, Palos Heights. Family and friends will gather for a Memorial Mass Saturday, May 14th at Incarnation Church, 5757 West 127th Street, Crestwood, 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Charles Rubey officiating.
Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Anatomical Gift Association of IL, the American Cancer Society, or the Epilepsy Foundation.
