Mary Doyle Furcich

Mary Margaret Furcich, age 92, née Doyle; resident of Villa St. Benedict of Lisle, formerly of Western Springs and Hinsdale, and Mesa, Arizona, passed away peacefully on July 20th, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.
Beloved wife of the late Frank G. Furcich; loving mother of the late Nathan (Mary Shell) Shockey, Melissa Shockey, Victor Shockey, Therese (John) Dyer, and Stephen (Tracy) Shockey. Cherished grandmother of Patrick (Catie) Shockey, Emily (Natalie) Shockey, Rio McFarland, Angelica Meade, Christopher Shockey, Elizabeth, Rayanne, Nathan, and Maryalice Shockey; Great-grandmother of Ellen, Molly, Blair and Eleanor.
Preceded in death by her parents, Patrick J. Doyle Sr. of County Carlow Ireland and Alice Cunningham of County Down Ireland. Fun-loving sister of the late Patrick J. Doyle (the late Marianne), Alice (the late Leon) Sparks and Thomas (Louise) Doyle; fond aunt of many nieces and nephews.
Devoted member of the Furcich family; Lorraine Arvin, Steven (Erika) Furcich, and Sheila (Darius) Hensley; adored by step-grandchildren Ryan, Michelle, Lindsay, Alex, Justin, Marissa, Jared and Adriana, their spouses and her step great-grandchildren.
Mary attended Little Flower Elementary School and graduated from Mercy High School in Chicago. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1955. Following her graduation, Mary began working as a designer for the H. W. Gossard Company in Chicago. During her time there, she developed a women's undergarment that was awarded a U.S. patent. Her innovative design was selected to represent the American foundation garment industry at the American National Exhibition in Moscow in 1959 and was later marketed worldwide.
After retirement, she worked in the administrative office of the Village of Oakbrook. In 1994 she moved to Leisure World in Mesa, AZ with her husband Frank. They enjoyed the desert climate and their many outdoor adventures. Mary was part of the Holy Cross Catholic Church community where she served as a Eucharistic minister. Mary was also a dedicated member of the Ozanam Formation Experience, a spiritual and educational program designed for members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization dedicated to serving the poor and vulnerable.
Mary was well known in the Leisure World community for her involvement. She contributed creatively to spring luncheons, was a dedicated volunteer at the community library, an active member of the Pottery Club, served as chair of the Lap Swimmers Club, played Mahjong regularly and was a devoted member of the Quilters Club. Over the years, many were fortunate to receive one of her beautiful quilts-either made by her alone or crafted in collaboration with others.
Mary moved to Villa St. Benedict in 2020. She continued to play Mahjong regularly, was on the Welcome Committee, planned wing dinners, and was an acolyte at mass in the chapel. Mary made dear friends here.
Mary was an exceptional cook, and her family treasures the favorite recipes she passed down through the years. She was also a gifted artist with a keen eye for color. Her creativity flourished in various forms – ceramics, painting, and textiles, each piece a reflection of her vibrant spirit. A woman of deep and abiding faith, Mary was a devoted Catholic, with a special devotion to the Blessed Mother.
She was a loyal friend to many and had a natural gift for making people feel welcome. Mary loved a good party and brought joy and energy wherever she went. Her zest for life was matched by her talent for words; she had a unique gift for expressing herself beautifully in writing.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society in Mesa, AZ at Holy Cross are appreciated. Their direct number is 480-985-4259.
Visitation 3 to 8pm on Friday, August 15th at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Chapel prayers, 10:15am, from the funeral home to St. John of the Cross Church, Western Springs for an 11am Funeral Mass on Saturday, August 16th. Burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Justice. Additional Information: 708-352-6500