Mary Ann Barbara Reiss

Mary Ann Barbara Reiss (1944-2025)

Loving wife of Richard Sr. Beloved mother to Janessa (Doug) Wagner and Richard Jr. (Valerie). Caring grandmother to Morgan, Taylor, Jordyn, Zachary, and Ricky. Dear sister to Jeanette (Theresa Lechovski) Schrader and Frances Cotter. Special cousin to Gene Martinez. Fond aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Mary Ann was the loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend of many. Mary Ann, 80, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away at home after a battle with stage 4 ovarian cancer on October 31, 2025. She was surrounded by immediate family at the time of her passing.

She was born in Denver, Colorado on December 10, 1944 to Clara Martinez and later adopted by her step-father Robert Schrader. She was the oldest of the three sisters and grew up with their cousin Gene (who was more like their brother), and they all had many great memories living in Denver together. In 1954, the family left Denver since her father was in the army and was transferred to Chicago. Mary Ann never moved from Chicago after that.

Mary Ann met a man named Richard in 1962 when she started working in the mailroom at the young age of 17 at National Tea food stores main office. They dated, fell in love, and were happily married on February 23, 1963. She knew it was forever, and she was right! They started their lives together and remained married for a beautiful 62 years.

Mary Ann and Rich had two children, Janessa and Richard Jr. Her two children meant the absolute world to her, and she raised them to be hardworking and loyal individuals. Janessa went on to marry Doug, and Rich Jr. married Valerie.

Although she loved raising Janessa and Rich, it's arguable that her favorite role was that of a grandparent. She loved caring for and spending time with Morgan, Taylor, Jordyn, Zack, and Ricky! She showed off her grandchildren any way that she could - especially with her countless pictures of them around her home. If her grandchildren were around, she had an infectious smile on her face and never missed an opportunity to let her grandchildren feel the love she had for them. Mary Ann loved being an aunt and great-aunt to many as well.

Mary Ann had a soft spot for her dogs as well. Nikki, Maggie, and Mia forever held a special place in her heart. She missed them everyday, and would beam anytime she told stories about them. Recently through her illness, her "great-grand dog" Roo gave her lots of kisses and comfort.

Everyone who knew Mary Ann knew how much she loved two things - holidays and shopping. She took full advantage of getting to decorate for every holiday, even making small Christmas trees with decorations for St. Patricks Day, Fourth of July, Easter, etc. The Reiss household was always filled with decorations - she felt she could never have enough! She loved shopping for others and also buying herself the *occasional* pair of shoes in every color possible, throw rugs, you name it.

Mary Ann was a tough cookie. She battled chronic leukemia for the past 20 years of her life. In late July, she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer and made the difficult decision to enjoy the time she had left with her beloved family and friends. She had many visitors spending time with her and even made it out to a couple family parties despite being in pain. She pushed through the pain and tiredness every day to make sure everyone around her felt her love.

Mary Ann is finally at peace and is no longer in pain, but her love and spirit remains in all of our hearts and the beautiful memories we share. We will always remember the way she said "yous guys" and how infectious her beautiful smile was. We all love her so much and miss her dearly.