Mary Lee Williams

Mary Lee Williams, age 79, of Lake Barrington, Illinois, went to be with the Lord peacefully on Palm Sunday, March 24th, at her home.

She was born March 9, 1945, in Rockford, Illinois, the daughter of Clark P. and Mary E. (Deneen) Wright.

Mary Lee graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She also took coursework towards a master’s degree program in Education. She was fluent in Spanish as a secondary language, and lived in Columbia for three months where she was part of a program to help disadvantaged young girls to have a promising future. In addition, she participated in other social work programs in Kentucky and Texas. She worked as a social worker by trade, which was her passion, serving people to have a better quality of life. She was a strong advocate for civil rights and equality.

Mary Lee deeply loved her family and her Irish heritage, which she was sure to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with family. She was a loving and kind wife, mother, and grandma. Her smile was her trademark, she had an infectious laugh and loved to celebrate life. She was a bright light in this world, and the room was always brighter with her in it. Her grandchildren were her stars.

She is survived by her husband, David P. Williams; her three children, Jennifer (Kirk) Jones of Geneva, Tracy (Justin) Froelich of Evanston, and Mary Williams of Lake in the Hills; six grandchildren, Alicia Neubauer, Kaden Williams, Sophia and Aaron Jones, and Hunter and Chase Froelich; her sister, Rita Plambeck; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Donna (Glen) Kuehn and brother, John (Jack) Wright.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 33 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich, IL from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on Mary Lee's personal page at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.