Mary M. Taylor

Mary M. Taylor, 99, of Kankakee, died Saturday (April 19, 2008) at Provena Heritage Village. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. The Rev. Dennis Settles will officiate.Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Catholic Charities, St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, or to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.She was born March 5, 1909, in Salina Township, the daughter of Elmer N. and Margaret Dunn Taylor, the middle of three children -- having an older and a younger brother. Her father owned and operated a grain elevator. Her mother passed away when she was a teenager. She continued to live with her father in Bonfield, and when she moved to Kankakee, she maintained a home for him until his death. She attended Notre Dame Academy in Bourbonnais. She graduated from St. Patrick High School in Kankakee and St. Viator College in Bourbonnais. She subsequently spent two summers in advanced studies in Boston.Her first job was teaching eight grades in a one-room country school several miles from her home. She rode with a friend to within one mile of school and walked the rest of the way regardless of the weather. On cold days, she built an early fire so the room would be warm when the children arrived. After teaching in a small town high school, she taught at Longfellow School and later became its principal.Early in the war, she was the first woman hired at the Elwood Munitions Plant, where she ultimately was in charge of all women who worked there during her employment. She served many, many years on the boards of Alfred Fortin Villa, Community Chest (now United Way), American Cancer Society, as well as on numerous Zonta committees.In keeping with her personal mission to serve, she accepted the position of Executive Director of Catholic Charities and remained there for 29 years. There were no Social Services Degrees in those early post-war years, so she learned daily how to perfect her position while on the job. Programs that she directed touched the lives of many, whenever, wherever there was a call for help. Many former clients kept in contact, especially parents whose adoptive process was facilitated by her through the agency. All of this was achieved at a time in history when women found it difficult to move about in the professional world, which offered few opportunities.She was a faithful member of St. Martin of Tours Church and the Council of Catholic Women in Kankakee. She was a charter member of the Zonta Club of Kankakee that was founded in 1956. Throughout her membership she provided a firm and guiding hand in determining the type of a service club that it would be and become. She was the recipient of the Service Award for the year 2001. She was also an active member of Kankakee County Retired Teachers.Surviving are two nephews, Richard Taylor, Edward (Connie) Taylor; a very special niece, Mary Pat Barney and husband Willam; and lifelong friend and neighbor, Betty Girard.Deceased are two brothers and sisters-in-law, Aloysius and Catherine Taylor, and Francis and Carolyn Taylor.

Mary M. Taylor

March 5, 1909 - April 19, 2008