Mary Irene (nee Kiley) Bowman, age 99, of River Forest, Illinois, passed away peacefully on June 23rd, 2024 surrounded by her loved ones.

Mary was born on November 6th, 1924 to Bernard and Irene Kiley in Chicago, Illinois. A life-long supporter of Trinity High School where she and her six daughters graduated, she graduated from Rosary College (now Dominican). While pursuing her masters degree in social work at Loyola University in Chicago, she met the love of her life, Paul Clarke Bowman Jr. They were united in holy matrimony on October 8th, 1949.

Mary was passionate about her faith and received much strength from it. She also was a great supporter of the Haymarket House in Chicago founded by Monseigneur Ignatius McDermott, a dear friend of hers from Loyola. Mary volunteered alongside her husband Paul at the Apostolate for the Handicapped for many years, along with countless other charitable works.

Mary touched everyone 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.

She 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. She is also survived by her loving 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 the loving attentiveness of her remarkable caregivers Annie and Aida, and her hospice team Jill and Irma.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Paul, her mother Irene, her father Bernard, her brothers Bernard and William, her son in law Bernard, and her daughter in law Shelly.

Family and friends will be received at the Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Rd. on Wednesday, June 26th, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00. All will meet Thursday for an 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Edmund Catholic Church, 188 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Haymarket House Chicago (www.hcenter.org/ways-to-give). Funeral info: 708-F-U-N-E-R-A-L.