Mary Louise Berry
70, a retired educator with a long and successful career in public schools in Connecticut, Illinois and Indiana died December 21 in Chicago. A native of Indianapolis, Ms. Berry graduated with a B.S. degree from the School of Home Economics at Purdue University in 1966. She completed the M.S. degree, also in Home Economics, at Purdue in 1971. She taught at Nathan Hale Junior High School in Norwalk, Connecticut from 1966-1970 and 1971-1974. She joined the faculty of Bremen High School, Midlothian, Illinois in 1974, retiring in 2002. She chaired the Home Economics Department for several years and served as Secretary of the NEA-IEA District 228 Teacher’s Union from 1995 until her retirement. She travelled extensively during her life both domestically and internationally. Cruises to Alaska, the Baltic, and visits to the United Kingdom
were particular favorites. She was a longtime member of the Faith Methodist Church in its various iterations in Midlothian, Oak Forest and most recently Orland Park, Illinois. A dedicated member of the church choir, she also served on the fundraising committee and provided leadership for many programs and special projects. A lover of the arts, she held season tickets to the Goodman Theater and the Lyric Opera of Chicago for decades. She was an active member of the ten-member charity, “Quilting for a Cause” for the past eight years. The group makes pillowcases and quilts for children’s hospitals, nursing homes and homeless and battered women’s shelters. All who knew and loved her saw her as a kind, generous and thoughtful soul who will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. Ms. Berry is survived by her brother John (Alice) Berry of River Forest, Illinois, niece Katherine Berry Mann (RJ) of Creede, Colorado, and by her brother Brian (Brenda) Berry, nephews Eric Berry and Michael (Megan) Berry, and grand nieces Emma and Ashlynne, all of Indianapolis. She spent many days each year with her many friends and former colleagues in Connecticut, Indiana and Illinois. Among them are Marilyn Munchak of Southport, Connecticut; Bob Brewer of Norwalk, Connecticut, Linda and Mike Profetto of Burr Ridge, Illinois, Laura Joy and Tom Kinsella of Orland Park, Illinois and Sharon Chenoweth Green, Jo Ellen Walden and Jane Graham of Indianapolis. Family and friends will gather Saturday, January 17, 2015 for a memorial visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of Memorial Service at Faith United Methodist Church,15101 South 80th Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to Grace on Wings, P.O. Box 455, Plainfield, Indiana or Faith United Methodist Church of Orland Park, Illinois, 15101 South 80th Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462.