Marion Cecilia Riss

1918 - 2025

“She leaves us with full hearts, countless memories, and the example of a life well lived.”

With hearts full of sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Marion Cecilia Riss, who departed this life at the remarkable age of 106 in River Grove, IL. Throughout her long and extraordinary life, she remained a source of comfort, joy, and strength to all who knew her.

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1918, Marion was the cherished daughter of Ellsworth and Julia (Cregier) Schwind and the younger sister of Harold M. Schwind. She later married Howard R. Riss, son of Jesse Otto Riss and Myrtle Laura Lillis, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and unwavering devotion to family.

Marion lived through more than a century of sweeping change, meeting each era with curiosity, gratitude, and grace. She excelled professionally, earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues. Yet her greatest pride was her family. She nurtured her children—Judi, Raymond, Roger, and Richard—with boundless love and a visionary belief in their futures. A busy young mother, she returned to the workplace, with a single-minded goal that her children be the first generation of our family to attain college educations. Starting out humbly, with a part time evening job behind the counter of the local bowling alley, she advanced in her career to serve as executive secretary at Wilson’s sporting goods and later FMC Corporation. While she took great pride in her children’s educational and later professional successes, she did not neglect to instill a corrective dose of humility in her children via her acumen at the Scrabble board whenever they came home from college to visit.

Anyone who met Marion quickly discovered how her warm, outgoing presence could light up a room. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures. In her adult years, she cherished bowling with her gal’s club, entertaining and cooking for relatives, and gathering at frequent neighborhood parties. In her later years, she sharpened her spirit with daily prayer and bible time, and her mind with daily crossword puzzles, enjoyed birdwatching and gardening, and treasured the time spent with her children and grandchildren.

A devout Catholic, Marion’s faith was a steady guide throughout her life. She was a daily communicant and longtime parishioner of St. Cyprian’s and St. William’s churches. On reaching retirement, she volunteered for many years with the St. Cyprian School library, and in the process became both a valued ally and close friend to school librarians Srs. Loretta and Sarah, who soon became extended members of our family.

Marion was a woman of remarkable strength, kindness, and compassion. She was a devoted aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, taking immense pride in these roles. She leaves behind her sons Ray and Roger, grandchildren Jill, Jon, Ryan, Michelle, and Michael; great-grandchildren JB, Kaitlyn, Connor, Audrey, Madison, and Aiden, nephew and godchild Harold Jr. and his wife Geri; niece Arlis and her husband John. She was preceded in death by husband Howard, daughter Judi, son Richard, and grandson Bradley.

She also leaves behind many extended family members and cherished friends who enriched her life in countless ways. Marion would especially want to thank her devoted caregivers—Alicja, Anna, Agnes, and Renata—It was only with their dedication, love and support that Marion continued to live with comfort and dignity in her own home until the Lord called her home.

Her home was always open, her table always full, and her heart always welcoming.

Marion leaves behind a legacy of enduring love, faith, and devotion to family. Her spirit lives on in the many lives she touched and the lessons she leaves behind.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life on December 13 at 10:00 a.m. at St. William’s Catholic Church.

Order of services:

St. William Catholic Church 2600 N Sayre Ave, Chicago, IL 60707. Church is on the southwest corner of Wrightwood and Sayre. For off street parking, use the school parking lot 1 block east of the church.  Set your GPS to 2530 N. Newland Ave. Newland is one way northbound, so you will need to approach from the south, via Altgeld St., rather than from Wrightwood. 

9:30 am              Viewing

10 am              Holy Mass

11 am  Procession to St Joseph Cemetery, Belmont & Cumberland Avenues, River Grove IL  60171

11:30 am        Interment and graveside prayer

12:30 pm           Please join us for the funeral luncheon and celebration of life at Donny G’s Ristorante. 7308 W North Ave Elmwood Park IL (one block west of Harlem Ave).

Please RSVP to Roger at 402-570-0343 for the luncheon so that the restaurant can get an approximate head count.

Flowers can be ordered through Quasthoff’s Flowers (708) 456-7890). Marion loved white Lilies.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Williams Parish.