Mary Therese Alroth

Mary Therese Lamont Alroth, 93, devoted mother of Joannè, Rick (Melita) and Meghan (Joseph); beloved Gran to Evy, Nick, Luke and Phillip; cherished aunt, cousin and godmother; treasured friend to many; dedicated nurse; loving daughter to the late George and the late Evelyn Lamont, passed away Feb.24

Mary Therese Lamont was born April 20, 1930, at Norwegian-American Hospital in Chicago on Easter Sunday of that year to then 23-year-old Evelyn and then 29-year-old George. Born prematurely at just 4 pounds, 11 ounces, Mary battled health issues as an infant and wasn’t expected to live. She often said one of her first memories was being placed on a block of ice daily to bring down a severe fever. Ever resilient, she recovered and in early childhood attended Our Lady of Grace and St. Sylvester’s schools in the Logan Square neighborhood.

An only child, she tragically lost her mother at age 7, and, six months later, lost her paternal grandmother, Ellen Lamont. 

Mary then attended St. Mary’s Training School, later Maryville Academy, in Des Plaines, Ill. as a boarding student, and graduated in 1948. She credited the school, its administration and its students with giving her both lifelong lessons and friendships. A noted seamstress and tailor and a gifted artist, Mary was known for her ability to create fashionable clothing, formal wear, wedding gowns and veils and artwork, especially as gifts for family members and friends.

She worked as a jeweler for Irons and Russell on Chicago’s Jewelers Row for several years after graduating, then served as an assistant in the bursar’s office at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Mary met her former husband Frederick at a dance at Chicago’s St. Killian’s Parish in 1948; they were married at St. Carthage Parish in 1951. She briefly worked for the builders of the Prudential Building (later One Prudential Plaza) before spending 10 years as an executive assistant to former Willett Motor Coach President Howard Willett and several years as an executive assistant at Greyline Bus Company before retiring to raise her three children.  

A strong advocate of education, Mary began college in 1972 as a night-school student and graduated cum laude from Chicago City College’s nursing program in 1977 with her R.N. Mary then spent more than 20 years as a devoted pre- and post-op nurse at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, caring for patients and training hundreds of medical and nursing students.

She also served as a longtime nursing director for several cardiac rehabilitation programs, including at Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation. Once retired from full-time nursing, Mary worked part-time with several sports-medicine firms, providing testing and exams for players from the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks.

As a committed volunteer, Mary worked with and supported MNASR and McDermott Foundation/ Haymarket Center programs. A lover of travel and music, Mary traveled around the world and was an ardent fan of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Irish folk music. Noted as a warm and creative hostess, she loved to bring family, friends and colleagues together at her home, the CSO and the Irish-American Heritage Center in Chicago.  

As a parent, Mary instilled both a love for learning and tireless curiosity in her children. She delighted in playing games and cards with her beloved grandchildren, nieces, nephews and godchildren, as well as other family members and friends; won frequently and took great joy in providing ice cream to all early and often.   

Visitation from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 1 at Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Home, Peter Heneghan Director, 6250 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL. Family and friends are welcome to meet for prayers beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2, at the funeral home. Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday at the McDermott Foundation, 932 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL. Interment at a later date at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be appreciated to the McDermott Foundation d.b.a. Haymarket Center, 932 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607, Donate – Haymarket Center hcenter.org or to the Chicago Symphony  Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604, Contribution | Chicago Symphony Orchestra cso.org

For more information colonialfuneral.com or 773- 774-0366. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Therese Alroth, please visit our floral store.