Mary Catherine Geoghegan

Mary Catherine Geoghegan (Brown)

Novermber 2, 1937 - June 14, 2023

Mary Catherine Geoghegan passed away on June 14th in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 85. Born Mary Catherine Brown, to Maurice and Mary (Kilgallon) Brown, in Hazel Crest, Illinois; she eventually moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she called home for the past 65 years. Mary had an incredible business sense at a very young age, as she was responsible for running the family general store at 1247 W. Wellington St. She graduated from Longwood Academy and attended Loyola University where she studied healthcare. After working many years at a doctor's office at the corner of Halsted St. and Lincoln Ave., Mary dedicated 25 years of her life to Catholic Charities as a social worker in the Chicago area.

Upon graduation, Mary married an Irishman from Co. Dublin, IRL, John A. Geoghegan and would often remind him that, "It was the greatest day of his life." While working fulltime, Mary embraced a trailblazer's role, and began to invest in residential real estate on the Northside of Chicago. She loved a good deal and was an incredibly tough negotiator. Mary truly loved researching, discussing, and questioning Chicago real estate deals and projects, and did so, until her final days.

Mary's life was full of love, laughter, learning, and the stock market (always looking for a gem utility company that offered a minimum of a 5.0% dividend yield). She was an avid reader, of all things. She could be seen leaving the public library with shopping bags full of books. Some of her happiest times were spent with friends and family in Lake Geneva, WI and Naples, FL. Never one to shy away from a fight or engage in a joke, her sense of humor, toughness, patience, and free spirit, will be missed by all that knew her.

Mary is succeeded by her loving family: husband John, and children James (Katherine Keller); John (Mary "Carrie" Nolan); Sean (Sara Doss) and grandchildren Patrick, Caroline, Shannon, Abigail, Margaret, Cara, John, Brendan, Kathleen and Padraig. Mary is the older sister to Maurice James Jr (Lydia Granio) and loving aunt to Patrick, Mary Ellen, and Maureen Brown. She was preceded in death by her loving parents and niece Natalie Brown.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 8th at Roscoe Village Pub (2159 W. Addison St., Chicago, IL 60618) from 3:00PM - 6:00PM.

Mary was a champion at advocating for those who were unable to advocate for themselves. This was apparent in her 25 years as a social worker and her desire to help the Misericordia Heart of Mercy Community. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy https://www.misericordia.com