MaryKay Lopardo

MaryKay Lopardo (nee McGovern), long time Oak Park, IL resident (most recently of Westchester), passed away September 20th with her daughter by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Lopardo, her daughter Elizabeth, and her brother Thomas J. McGovern.

Born November 15th, 1946, in Chicago, IL, she was adopted by Owen and Ellen McGovern (nee Coubrough) of Chicago. She attended Resurrection school alongside her brother and cousins until the family moved to Oak Park, IL in 1955. She then attended St. Giles, followed by Trinity High School (‘65) and Northern Illinois University. Always keen to learn something new, MaryKay would go on to hold jobs across many career fields, including medicine, medical research, modeling, health and fitness coaching, and music.

She married Robert Lopardo on June 16, 1979, and their daughters Laura and Elizabeth were born soon after. She began a career as a health and fitness coach while their daughters grew and added participating in dog training and animal therapy groups as time went on.

Both avid lifelong musicians, MaryKay and Bob regularly played music together at home and joined the Oak Park area folk music scene, playing in groups such as Thursday’s Child and the Oak Park Farmer’s Market Band. This passion brought MaryKay to Guitar Fun, where she taught many students on guitar and mandolin.

She is survived by her daughter, Laura Lopardo, her son, Scott Ostriker, grandchildren Jacob, Marissa, and Jack Ostriker, and many relatives and friends who love and miss her.

A memorial service will be held November 19th, 2022 from 1-4 pm at Petersen-Bassi Chapels, 6938 W. North Ave in Chicago, IL