Mary Ann Librera

Mary Ann Librera, affectionately known as Mar to her loved ones, lived a life that was as fun-loving and memorable as her personality. Born on April 7, 1961, in the windy city of Chicago, IL, she embarked on a journey filled with laughter, music, and an undeniable flair for the beautiful things in life. Sadly, after much suffering, Mar's final call came on July 31, 2024, in the town of Huntley, IL, at Northwestern Hospital where she was surrounded by the warmth of her loving mother and her closest life-long friend, Tracey Petry.
Mar was a woman who could light up a room with her humor and her impeccable sense of style, which she honed at Cosmetology School, while serving clients as a cosmetologist. She could tease out a hairstyle as easily as she could a laugh, and her chair was the one-stop shop for both a cut and a chuckle, but her talents didn't end there. Mar was also an admired player of the clarinet, earning high school honors that made her shine. She often joked that her clarinet was the only thing she could blow hot air into without starting an argument.
Her life was a symphony with movements dedicated to her passions. She had a knack for caring for her pet dogs, Chuckie, Piccolino, and Cappuccino, treating them like the little furry children she never had; and, let's not forget her collection of Chinese "Jade Tree of Life" art, which she cherished as a representation of the importance of family ties and connectedness.
Mar was a gift-giver, especially when it came to her young nieces and nephews. She showered them with presents and affection, teaching them the fine art of giving, without the expectation of receiving. Her nephews Edward, Anthony, and Carl, and her niece Juliann, along with their spouses and children, will miss her in a very special way.
Her love for dolphins and appreciation of the seas helped her navigate through life's challenges; and when it came to music, Mar's clarinet was her second voice, one that could express joy, sorrow, and everything in between without ever missing a beat.
Though Mar has played her final note, her melody will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who knew her. She now joins the band of angels, including her father Frank, brother Giuseppe, and grandparents Rosalia and Giuseppe Librera, Maria Anna and Giuseppe Licata, all of whom had predeceased her and were perhaps waiting with a well-tuned celestial orchestra.
Mar's life was a testament to the fact that laughter and fun are the best cosmetic. Until her serious illnesses, her ability to find humor in the everyday, to make the mundane more enjoyable, and to treat each day as an opportunity to overcome life's obstacles with courage will be the legacy she leaves behind.
As Mar reunites with her father and brother in heaven and greats her creator in the kingdom beyond, she leaves us with memories, a reminder to live each day to the fullest; and, that the best way to keep someone's spirit alive is to laugh, love, and play the soundtrack of their life.
So, we bid farewell to Mary Ann Librera, a woman who styled her way into our hearts, played the soundtrack of our lives, and left us all with much thought on how to live our lives to the fullest. As she leaves the world of pain and suffering, may we know that somewhere up above, she has the angels in stitches and has probably already started the first heavenly pet salon. Here's to you, Mar – unable to be with you in your final moments, we bid you farewell and hear the clarinet tunes welcoming you home to your eternal resting place of peace and harmony.
In lieu of flowers please considering making donations to:
https://dolphins.org/our_mission
https://bestfriends.org/
https://us.whales.org/about/