Mary Therese Janisch

Mary Therese Janisch, 89, a longtime resident of Mount Prospect and Des Plaines, Illinois, passed away in Cary, North Carolina, on August 1, 2025. Mary was born on July 20, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of four children of Martin and Agnes Keane. Her father, an Irish immigrant, worked in the steel mills, and she grew up among an extended Irish family on the South Side. Mary graduated from Aquinas High School in 1954 and went on to study nursing at Saint Xavier College, earning her RN in 1957. Introduced by mutual friends while vacationing in Saugatuck, Michigan, Mary married the love of her life, Joe Janisch, on September 10, 1960. They had four children in four years — Diane, Joe, Daniel and Mary — and were happily married for 63 years. Mary and Joe settled in Mount Prospect and made many lifelong friends. After working part-time as a nurse at an obstetrician's office, Mary decided to return to school. She earned an associate degree in medical records with honors from Oakton Community College in 1983. At the end of her career, she worked in quality assurance at NorthShore Hospital in Chicago. Mary’s faith was a cornerstone of her life. She was actively involved at St. Raymond de Peñafort Catholic Church in Mount Prospect for more than 50 years, serving in various roles, including lector and eucharistic minister. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mary always put family first. She and Joe enjoyed frequent visits to see their four children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Wisconsin, North Carolina, California, and Washington state. Mary had a kind heart and a talent for friendship. She cherished her friends from all parts of her life — from grade school to nursing school to Mount Prospect — and remained close to many for decades. Mary was particularly proud of her Irish heritage. She had a lighthearted Irish wit, and her Irish soda bread — made from her mom’s recipe — was legendary. She enjoyed attending Irish festivals in Chicago and Milwaukee, and she and Joe traveled to Ireland and reconnected with her Irish relatives. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her parents, Martin and Agnes Keane; her brothers, Robert and Jackie; and her sister, Rita. She is survived by her children: Diane (Steve), Joe (Samra), Daniel, and Mary (Bill); her grandchildren: Joe (Katie), Tom (Danielle), Theresa (Matthew), Dan (Irene), David, Greg (Reilley), Tylen, Tess, William, and Keean; her great-granddaughters: Maeve, Philomena, Gemma, and Cecilia; and many dear friends. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. EST on Thursday, Sept 4, 2025, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Cary, NC. For a live streaming link, see https://www.stmichaelcary.org/live-mass/ A memorial service will be announced at a later date at St. Raymond’s.

Mary Therese Janisch

July 20, 1936 - August 1, 2025