Mary Kay Hennig

Mary Katherine (“Kay”) Hennig of Park Ridge, IL passed peacefully on July 5, 2023 after a prolonged illness, in the company of friends and family members. Mary Kay was raised on the northwest side of Chicago by her beloved parents Judith Hennig (Schmitz) and Bernard A. (“Bud”) Hennig. From childhood, Mary Kay enjoyed close relationships with her extended family, including her Hennig grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Chicago and her many Schmitz relatives in Dubuque, Denver, and northern California, whom she visited frequently. Mary Kay was especially fond of holidays and reunions spent with family, where she developed her talents as a baker and a storyteller. As the daughter of an educator and a lawyer, Mary Kay became a lover of books and movies from an early age, particularly science fiction, fantasy, and great works of literature. She excelled academically at St. Constance Elementary School and St. Ignatius College Prep—where she made several lifelong friendships-- before completing her education at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. As a student, she was also able to fulfill her study of the Classics with a memorable tour of Greece. After graduation, Mary Kay became a social worker, impressing her clients and co-workers with her fierce dedication and selflessness. Her compassion and commitment to social justice were also evident in her support for prisoners’ rights and education, as she wrote countless letters of support to incarcerated young men. Mary Kay’s friends and family members will remember her for her wit, practical insights, and infectious sense of humor, as well as her great resilience and positivity in the face of adversity and illness, which were truly inspirational. They are grateful for the warmth, generosity, and laughter she shared even in the most difficult of times. A Memorial Visitation for Mary Kay will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Matz Mt. Prospect Funeral Chapel, 410 E Rand Road, Mt. Prospect, from 12:00-6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider contributing to the Greater Chicago Food Depository or the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless in Mary Kay Hennig’s memory.

Mary Kay Hennig

April 10, 1969 - July 5, 2023