The world was a kinder, brighter place for 94 years because of the life of Marietta A. Walsh (nee Battaglia). Born September 18, 1931, Marietta passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her four loving "helicopter" daughters, on March 3, 2026.

Marietta was the cherished daughter of Salvatore and Rose (Guerrero) Battaglia. She was born in South Bend, Indiana and moved to the west side of Chicago at six months old. She attended Roosevelt, Lincoln and St. Mel's grade schools, Siena High School, and St. Xavier College on the south side of Chicago. The full scholarship to Xavier came with a two-hour commute…each way! After graduation she worked as a chemist for several years and then taught math at Providence High School after obtaining her teaching certificate.

Marietta loved travel, taking her first trip to Europe with girlfriends before starting college, and returning for six weeks at age 25. Upon returning from the second trip in June 1957, she had the great good fortune of meeting the man she would share her life with for the next 63 years. Bob had just returned from serving in Germany during the Korean War and they immediately bonded over shared stories of the beautiful places they had each visited. They were engaged in August and married the following June, beginning their Oak Park life.

Marietta and Bob welcomed their first child in 1959 and by 1966 had five children. They lived in Ascension Parish for almost a decade and then moved to St. Giles Parish in 1969, at which time their household increased by one…Marietta's father, Sam. (The family was blessed to live with Grandpa Sam until the day he passed away in 1999, with Marietta as his wonderful caregiver.)

In 1971, Marietta and Bob helped found the St. Giles Family Mass Community. For more than fifty years, Marietta was actively involved in all aspects of the "Gym Mass," also known as the "Donut Mass." When notifying the Community of Marietta's passing, a friend wrote, "What a miracle of selfless love she was and her presence will continue to guide us, keeping alive her deep commitment to social justice issues, her passion for inclusivity of all people and her gift of generous hospitality. She truly lived the words of the song: All Are Welcome."

In 1977, with encouragement and support from fellow church goers, Marietta and Bob opened Logos Bookstore of Oak Park. For twenty-four action-packed years, the Christian bookstore – "More than books. More than a store." – thrived as a hub for family, friends and community members to shop, work and connect. Logos is missed to this day!

Beyond church and work, Marietta was just a wonderful, self-proclaimed "people person." She absolutely loved ice cream, reading, chocolate, gardening, volunteering, cheering on her children and grandchildren in all their pursuits, playing bridge, fresh flowers, praying for people, traveling the world (including visiting their three youngest daughters in the Peace Corps in Honduras and Senegal), watching movies, and playing double solitaire. Happy hour was always a good idea and she made the best spaghetti dinners!

Given the chance, Marietta would have given away every cent she owned to worthy charities. She adored going to the symphony, live theater, museums, the opera, and taking advantage of many wonderful things living in the great city of Chicago offered. She did spend many summer days at Apple Canyon Lake and many winter days in Naples, Florida, but left to her own devices she would have stayed put in her home town. She spent the last four years of her life living at Brookdale Senior Living in Oak Park, where she was happily relieved of the burden of grocery shopping and cooking and cleaning. How wonderful.

Marietta was the devoted wife of the late Robert J. Walsh. She was the loving mother of Julie (Charles) Fabrizius, Marie (Kevin) White, Therese Cormack, Elizabeth Walsh, and the late Robert V. (Jim Jajkowski) Walsh. She was the proud grandmother of Luke (Kristen Contos) and Brian Fabrizius, Sean White, Bec and Melissa Cormack, and Aidan and Hannah Walsh. Marietta was the dear sister of the late Vincent (Maureen) Battaglia and sister-in-law of the late Mary Jean (her best friend) and the late Robert Connelly, as well as a wonderful aunt and friend to countless special people.

Visitation will take place at 10:00 AM, followed by the Memorial Mass at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at St. Giles Church, 1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park, IL. Click here to access the livestream at Mass time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myzv6wiil0I .

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marietta's memory to Sarah's Inn ( www.sarahsinn.org ) or HEDAC (Honduras Educational Development Assistance Corporation - www.hedac.org ) would be greatly appreciated.