Obituary of Mary A. Jackson

Mary Angela Dalton Jackson, age 90, passed away peacefully on March 21^st, 2021. She enjoyed a life well lived with extended family and long-time friends with boundless appreciation for the love and happiness of her family.

While she frequently claimed “not to have lived” until she met her husband, the late Thomas Rowland Jackson, there was much more to her youth. Mary was born in the DePaul area of Chicago where she made amazing friends, several of whom she met for lunch well into her 80s. She used her WWII ration books for leather shoe roller skates, contributed to her high school tuition by working at Schwefer's Bakery and had many adventures at North Avenue beach.

Mary met her husband at a dance, was engaged before he left for the Korean War and married shortly after his return. She raised five children, first in Chicago and then for 30+ years in Glenview where she met fantastic families in the neighborhood and at St. Catherine Laboure parish who became life-long friends; sharing bridge, sports, cocktail hours, dinner parties, trips and each of life’s milestones. She enjoyed working for 15 years as a receptionist for Koenig & Strey Realtors in Glenview and Wilmette.

Mary was proud of her family and enamored with her children’s great relationships, the wonderful people they married and the next generations. She loved stories about her 11 grandchildren’s adventures, travels, smarts and good fortune when finding partners. Hearing about their adorable little humans brought much joy. Attending events, reviewing endless pictures and smiling at videos were favorite pastimes.

After retirement Mary embraced a new home with Tom in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, winter vacations south and special trips to Europe. Life in Door County brought wonderful days filled with visitors and new friends. Always up for an adventure, she learned to quilt, make bread, and to gamble at the casinos and on 5 Crowns. Mostly she enjoyed people, spending time with her dear brother Tom and sister-in-law Bev and savoring her husband’s gourmet cooking. Mary was an early role model for splitting some household tasks; frequently lamenting that she cooked for the first 25 years and Tom could have the second 25. 

Mary cherished her 53 years of marriage and after her husband passed she moved to Libertyville. Even as some memories faded, she recognized family and friends and recalled important dates, addresses, and amusing quips used by family and long-gone friends. Most importantly she always remembered that her family loved her. She continued to find happiness and is now joyfully reunited with family and friends. 

Mary is survived by her five children Tom (Suzy), Tim (Peggy), Patty (Bob) Russo, Maureen (Don) Kotek and Kathleen; grandchildren Tim (Michelle) Jackson, Kevin (Amy) Jackson, Marygrace (Josh) Hjort, Dan Jackson, Luke Jackson, Brittany (Kyle) Luechs, Smith Robertson, Allison Russo, Patrick Kotek, Bridget Kotek and Maggie Kotek; great grandchildren Josiah Hjort, Madeleine Hjort, Noel Jackson and Nathaniel Hjort; dear brother and friend Tom (Beverly) Dalton and aunt to oodles of wonderful nieces and nephews and their families. 

Preceded in death by parents Fred and Mary (nee Dixon) Dalton, sister Margaret (late Edward) Solger & brothers Frank (Marjorie), Fred (late Mary) and Joseph, and daughter-in-law Belen Jackson (nee Janus).

Our family has endless gratitude for the care teams at Victory Lakes Continuing Care Community and Oak Hill Supportive Living who enabled hundreds of visits, calls, Zooms and FaceTime connections; before and during the last year. 

A memorial mass and celebration of life will be held at a future date. Arrangements entrusted to McMurrough Funeral Chapel, Libertyville, IL.