Mary Irene (nee Kiley) Bowman, 99, of River Forest, died peacefully on June 23, 2024 surrounded by her loved ones. Born on Nov. 6, 1924 to Bernard and Irene Kiley in Chicago, she was a lifelong supporter of Trinity High School, from which she and her six daughters graduated. She also graduated from Rosary College (now Dominican University). While pursuing her master’s degree in social work at Loyola University in Chicago, she met the love of her life, Paul Clarke Bowman Jr. They married on Oct. 8, 1949.
Passionate about her faith, she was a great supporter of the Haymarket House in Chicago founded by Monsignor Ignatius McDermott, a dear friend of hers from Loyola. She and her husband volunteered at the Apostolate for the Handicapped for many years, along with countless other charitable works.
With her contagious smile, great sense of humor, and unconditional acceptance, she cared for all and demonstrated this daily. She may be most remembered for her laugh and many stories.
Mary is survived by her children, Mary Kay (James) Mullen, Nancy (the late Bernard) Babel, Patricia (James) Ruth, Susan (Phillip) Mullane, Ellen (Lawrence) Calkins, Paul (the late Shelly) Bowman, Jerome (Mary) Bowman, and Elizabeth (Curtis) Kracht; her 21 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law Jim and sister-in-law Winnie Bowman; and many nieces and nephews. In her final days, Mary and her family were blessed by her remarkable caregivers, Annie and Aida, and her hospice team, Jill and Irma.
She was preceded in death by Paul, her husband of 48 years; her mother, Irene; her father, Bernard; her brothers, Bernard and William; her son-in-law Bernard, and her daughter-in-law Shelly.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Conboy Westchester Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 27 at St. Edmund Catholic Church in Oak Park (please meet at church).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Haymarket House Chicago (www.hcenter.org/ways-to-give).
