Western Springs Obituaries: Mary C. Chamberlin, 1925-2013

The following obituary was sent to Patch by reader Mark Chamberlin, who said his family resided in Western Springs for three decades at 100 Rugeley Rd. in Springdale:

Mary Cecilia Chamberlin (nee Hill), passed away peacefully with her family present on Dec. 11, 2013. Mary was born Sept. 8, 1925, the seventh of 12 children born to John Hill and Helen McCormick Hill. Mary spent her childhood in Salt Lake City and attended Judge Memorial School. She married Robert, her beloved husband of 64 years, in 1949 and they raised five children together.

Mary is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob) S. Chamberlin, a sister, Gerry Ivory, of Salt Lake City and a brother Jim Hill, of Houston; by her five children: Frank,  Mark (Barbara), Denise Barnett (Jerry), Darcy (David Hart) and Robert M. Chamberlin; by six grandchildren, Mason Chamberlin (Shelley), Tiffany Zenisek, Lee Barnett (Jessica Matson), Kate Barnett, Nathan Hart, Adam Hart, Libby Chamberlin and Tim Chamberlin, and three great grandchildren, Jesse, Katie and Abbey.

Mary and her husband began married life in Salt Lake City, but soon made their way to both coasts and to the Chicago area where their children attended elementary and high schools. Through Bob’s overseas assignments Mary and Bob were able to indulge their love for travel. Mary established an open and welcoming home and a large circle of friends wherever Bob’s work took them; Birmingham, San Francisco, Chicago, Singapore, Hong Kong, Reno, and Las Vegas. Mary loved to entertain and took great pleasure and care in planning the next gathering. Mary’s great sense of humor and natural sense of empathy endeared her to so many across the globe. Mary and Bob continued to travel with great gusto after Bob retired, ultimately visiting all but one of the seven continents and an impressive list of our country’s great National Parks.

The family lived in a magical home, loved and cherished by Mary. She leaves a legacy of a family that loves to spend time together, eating festive meals, laughing, talking politics, religion (all the topics you are not supposed to discuss), playing and watching sports (especially her favorite 49ers). We are so lucky to have had you as our life guide and role model, Mom.

A Remembrance will be held on December 19, 2013 at Revere Golf Club, 2600 Hampton Road, Henderson, NV from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  A springtime service will be held for friends and family in Chicago at a date, time, and place to be determined.

The family requests that memorials in the name of Mary C. Chamberlin be made to a charity of the donor’s choosing.

The following obituaries were recently featured on Legacy.com:

Marybelle Robinson, 98, of Western Springs, was the wife of the late Leigh Robinson, mother of John and Lawrence Robinson, grandmother of Elizabeth Pino, Charles Robinson, Carol Kokontis, and James Robinson, and great-grandmother of Leonard. A visitation is being held Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hallowell & James Funeral Home in Countryside. Family and friends will attend an 11 a.m. service Wednesday at Grace Episcopal Church in Hinsdale. Donations to the Marybelle Robinson Memorial Fund at Grace Episcopal Church are encouraged. An obituary for Ms. Robinson was published in the Chicago Tribune on Dec. 17.

Milan Krupa, 96, of Western Springs, was the husband of the late Ann, father of Linda Wright, grandfather of Robert and Laura, and great-grandfather of Dominic. A visitation was held Friday in Countryside and a funeral service was held Saturday in Hinsdale. Donations to Evangelical Covenant Church in Hinsdale are encouraged. An obituary for Mr. Krupa was published in the Chicago Tribune on Dec. 12.