Mary M. Becker

Mary M. Becker (nee Buonomo) age 94 of Reedsburg, Dane County WI, formerly of Bellwood and Wheaton in Illinois. Beloved wife of the late Edward F. Becker. Dear mother of Karen Becker, Edward (Jean), Christopher (Kathy), Stephen (Sarah), Susan (Chris Wren) and John (Sue Ann) Becker. Loving grandmother of Renee and Kristyn Becker, Cara (Pieter) and Steven Wren. Loving great grandmother (GaGa) of Ethan, Bryn, and Emmett Becker. Daughter of Christ and Frances (nee Esposito) Buonomo. Fond sister of the late Vincent and the late Carmina. Many, many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Visitation Saturday, September 30, 9AM, followed by funeral Mass at 10AM, St. Domitilla Church, 4940 Washington St., Hillside, IL 60162. Interment Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Donations to SSM Health at Home Foundation of Wisconsin appreciated.

Mary (known as Marie to friends and family) grew up on Chicago's west side, eventually taking a position at Sears, Roebuck & Co. at their Homan Avenue headquarters. While participating in an after-work bowling league, she met Ed Becker, a young man who had recently returned from serving in the Army in Korea. They fell in love, got married, and started a family. Eventually the family moved to the western suburbs, settling in a three-bedroom brick bungalow in Bellwood, which would be home for the next thirty years. In 1992, it was time to downsize, and Ed and Mary moved into a condo in Wheaton. A decade later, the couple moved to Baileys Harbor, in Door County, Wisconsin, living with eldest daughter Karen. Ed passed in 2006, and Mary and Karen eventually relocated to the town of Reedsburg in central Wisconsin, where a large gathering of family and friends celebrated Mary's 90th birthday in 2019. She moved into the Meadow Ridge Senior Living facility in neighboring Baraboo in January 2023, and passed away peacefully on August 14.

Mary loved to read, and was a patron of the public library wherever she lived. As she aged, she was saddened by her failing eyesight, which made reading more difficult. She also loved to cook, and took great delight in passing her skills along to the younger generations. One of her culinary goals was to duplicate her mother's lemon meringue pie. Even after many attempts, (all of which were quite tasty), she was never fully satisfied that her pie matched the lemony goodness of her memory of her mother's dessert. Another one of her favorite traditions was hosting dozens of friends and family every Christmas Eve. The bonanza of pasta, seafood, and desserts was amazing.

Over the course of 94 years, Mary gathered much knowledge and wisdom. She was always one for giving out good advice, in manageable chunks. A few favorites:

"If it's free, take it!"

"The pasta doesn't wait for the people, the people wait for the pasta."

"Leave your vacuum cleaner out. If someone drops by and the house is a mess, just tell them you were getting ready to vacuum."

"Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."

Mary will be missed but she lives on in our memories.