Mary Jane McDonough

Mary Jane McDonough
Passed away in her home, surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, January 22, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 88. She was born on August 13th, 1934 in Knox, Indiana, the youngest of eleven children of Mary and Jerry Gurrado. She lived her adult life in Joliet, filled with love, friendships, travel, and a full appreciation of the life with which she had been blessed.
Mary Jane married Robert (Bob) McDonough in 1960, and they worked together at the Uniroyal Chemical Company/Joliet Army Ammunition Plant for many years until Bob's death in 1988, where they made many lifelong friends who still gather together today. In 1965 Bob and Mary Jane built and moved into their home on the west side of Joliet, a place that became her haven, surrounded by friends and neighbors who became family through "driveway drop-ins", block parties, and special celebrations. She met Merlin Anderson in 1991, and they shared many travels and adventures together until his death in June of 2012. Mary Jane was active in Senior Services of Will County and Senior Citizens Association of Will Co. She was a member of St. Mary Immaculate Church in Plainfield.
A huge part of Mary Jane's life experiences included her 6 sisters with whom she was incredibly close. Whether gathering at the family home in Knox for holidays, simple together-time, or piling in the car to head to the casino, "The Aunts" were a force to be reckoned with! In addition, Mary Jane was an Aunt-Extraordinaire to each of her nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Albert, Joseph (Dolores), Frank, and Mike (Mary Francis) Gurrado; sisters Sylvia (Elvin) Welkie, Maddeline (Pete) Pitts, Doris (Bern) Ghimenti, and Lorraine Gurrado; and niece Shelley Ruckman. She is survived by sisters Edith Gurrado and Geraldine Baske; nieces and nephews Debbie (Neil) Bennett, Jerry Gurrado, Michelle Damian, Jackie (Donnie) Lippelt, Jim (Kathy) Baske, and Lisa (Larry) Winters; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held from the Carlson Holmquist Sayles Funeral Home & Crematory, 2320 Black Road, Thursday, January 26th at 11:00 AM. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4:00 – 6:00 PM and Thursday morning from 10:00 AM until time of services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Three Oaks Hospice or Senior Services of Will County. For information (815) 744-0022 or visit www.CHSFUNERAL.com.