Mary Lucille Gaydos

Mary Lucille Gaydos (née Forkal), age 70 of Shorewood, IL passed away Friday, September 12, 2025 after a courageous fight against cancer. She passed peacefully at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet, IL while surrounded by family.

She was born in Joliet, IL on August 16, 1955 to the late Michael and Ellen J. Forkal (née Moroney). Growing up on the east side of Joliet, Mary was close with neighborhood friends, biked for miles with her brothers, and was very involved in her faith community, St. Mary Assumption Byzantine Catholic Church. It was there she met her husband, Michael, who stayed by her side for forty-seven years.

Mary taught math at Joliet Central High School for thirty years, eventually earning her Master’s in Education from National Louis University, and rising to service as Math/Science Department Chair and Assistant Principal. She retired in 2011, and continued her support for the school through her work on the Joliet Township High School Foundation Board where she served as Secretary, and created the content for their annual trivia contest fundraiser for nearly a decade.

‍Mary fiercely loved her family, a sweet treat, and the occasional trip to the casino. She enjoyed her “Girls Trips”, and family vacations to Lake of the Ozarks and South Haven, Michigan. Her analytical mind fostered a love of reading, puzzles and games, and hobbies like beading, crocheting, and sewing. Mary was known as reliable, level-headed, creative, and kind. She lovingly curated a home that welcomed all who wished to spend time there, and created a space for many to heal, laugh, celebrate, grieve, create, work and love.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Michael and Ellen; her brother-in-law Mark Gaydos; and sister-in-law Michaeleen Forkal.

She is survived by her husband Michael A. Gaydos; son Joseph M. Gaydos; daughter Traci (Jeremy) Wedekind of Sun Prairie, WI; grandchildren Ethan Wedekind and Maddie Wedekind; siblings Michael Forkal, James (the late Michaeleen) Forkal and Richard (Christine) Forkal‍; brother-in-law Dave (Linda) Gaydos of El Mirage, AZ; nieces Julie (Jonathan) Hamelau, Jennifer Forkal, Jacqueline (Nicholas) Roback, and Jessica Forkal; nephews Christopher (Nadia) Gaydos, Nicholas (MaKayla) Gaydos, Brian Gaydos, and Jonathan (Darcy) Forkal; great-nieces Charlie Frost and Quinn Forkal; great-nephews Beckett Forkal and Theodore Roback; as well as her children’s friends for whom she served as a “second mom.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care at https://lightways.org/make-a-donation/, or to the Joliet Township High School Foundation at jthsfoundation.org/.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be conducted at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Tezak’s Home to Celebrate Life, 1211 Plainfield Rd. Joliet, IL 60435. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery in Joliet, IL will be scheduled at a later date.