MARY LEE PITSTICK

Mary Lee Pitstick, 87, of Sycamore, Illinois, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday, July 29, 2024. She was born in Sycamore, Illinois on July 11, 1937, to parents, Joseph and Margaret Fidler (nee Schomer).

Mary was raised in Virgil, Illinois and attended local schools, graduating from Madonna Catholic High School, class of 1955. Growing up Mary loved farm life, living on her family grain and livestock farm.  She enjoyed tending to the family garden. Due to her love of fashion, in high school she worked for a clothing store in Aurora.

After graduating from high school Mary attended a Teacher’s College, now known as NIU, in DeKalb, where she attended for a semester.  She then transferred to Iowa State University to major in clothing and textiles. At age 43, she decided to complete her education.  She started at Waubonsee and then transferred to NIU to get her degree in Business Management.  She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from NIU at the age of 50 in December of 1987.

Mary met the love of her life at Iowa State University.  She said that when she met him, she felt like she was home and knew that he was her one true love.  After a brief courtship, they married on October 12, 1957, at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Virgil, Illinois.

When Mary and Richard were first married, she waitressed for a few years at Kendall’s Ranch in Maple Park. She met many lifelong friends working at the restaurant, people she stayed in contact with her entire life.  Shortly after starting her family, Mary decided to focus her energy on her children, and became a full-time homemaker.  She raised her children at Lilac Lane, a farm in Virgil, which’s namesake comes from the lilacs that run along the east side of the driveway. Her children fondly remember their mother gardening especially her zinnias and the lilacs. She loved to sew her own clothes from scratch.  She spent countless hours at the sewing machine designing and putting together one-of-a-kind pieces.  She took great pride in her home and single-handedly decorated her entire home, from the furniture to the walls.  Her taste in home décor was impeccable.  She also enjoyed baking and cooking for her family.

Mary and her husband Richard were long time members of S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Virgil, IL. Mary was also a member of the Maple Park Mother’s Club, The Pork Producers Woman’s Club, and the Kane County Home Extension, which she was still involved with until her passing.

In her free time, Mary loved to spend time gardening.  She also loved to cook and bake for her family.  No one ever went hungry around Mary.  She made sure her family and friends always had a smile on their faces and a full stomach.  Mary’s pride and joy was her family.  She focused her time and energy on making sure that all of her loved ones knew just how loved they truly were.  She was a beacon of compassion.  One of her most important roles in life was the role of being a grandmother and great grandmother.  She made sure that everyone felt important and seen, she knew every one of her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s names and birthdays.  She always made sure to call all her family members to wish them a happy birthday and would get them a thoughtful gift and card.  She was very overprotective of her family and friends and even texted or called them if a large storm came through, to make sure they were okay.  Mary was a loving, delightful, and thoughtful woman, an exemplary example of compassion and kindness.  She would do anything for her family and made sure to make it to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren’s sports events and school functions. Her family hopes to carry on her legacy of kindness and gratitude.  She will be missed dearly by all whose lives she touched.

Mary leaves behind her children: Steve (Megan) Pitstick, Michael (Melissa) Pitstick, David (Lisa) Pitstick, John (Melisa) Pitstick, Laura (Rusty) Hall, Deborah (Jeremy Hays) Pitstick, and Bryan (Tiffany) Pitstick; her grandchildren: Scott, Dale, Traci, Justine, Brianna, Abbi, Eric, Kristin, Kari, Cody, Jenna, Jayci, Amanda, Kymber, Madisyn, Carson, Keegan, Thomas, Nicole, Vincent, and Allyson; her twenty-one great grandchildren, her brother, Dan (Connie) Fidler; her sister-in-laws, Jo Ann Hendricks; Sandi Fidler; numerous nieces and nephews; and a whole family of friends.

She is reunited with her parents, Joseph and Margaret Fidler; her husband of 57 years, Richard Pitstick; her brother, James Fidler; her in-laws, Clarence and Charlotte Pitstick; her brother-in-laws, Larry Pitstick and Ron Hendricks.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 2, 2024 from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Parish Center in Virgil, Illinois.  A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 10:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church followed immediately by a mass to celebrate her faith at 11:00a.m. also at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.  Interment will immediately follow the service at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Kane or DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundations or to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Tributes may be forwarded to P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.