Mary Louise (Grimmer) Meyer

Mary Louise Meyer, 83, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2023 in Huntley, Illinois. She was a beloved wife, and was loved and adored by her children, their spouses, and grandchildren. Her love of family was the centerpiece of a generous and well-lived life.

Mary Lou was born on May 16, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois to Wilbert and Lillian Grimmer as the oldest of five children. She grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and graduated from Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee. She went on to become a Registered Nurse with a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. During a nearly five-decade career as a nurse, she worked in a variety of roles, including as a labor and delivery, postpartum, and surgical nurse, and later in hospital administration. After retirement from Woodstock Hospital, she continued to volunteer at the facility for many years thereafter.

It was while attending college that she met the love of her life, Donald Meyer, and they wed on January 20, 1962. Mary Lou and Don lived in Madison, Milwaukee, Thiensville, and New Richmond, Wisconsin, before moving to Lakewood, Illinois in 1975. Together, they raised four beautiful children, Doug, Cindy, Vicki, and Debbie, and during her 60-year marriage she enjoyed and spoiled nine grandchildren.

She was a devoted member of St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Crystal Lake and volunteered for a variety of parish ministries, including as religious education teacher.

She was an accomplished baker and was best known for her amazing chocolate chip cookies, cherry custard pie, and her chocolate torte, which were staples at all family functions hosted at her Lakewood home. She enjoyed being active and was happiest at home surrounded by her family.

Mary Lou is preceded in death by her parents Wilbert and Lillian Grimmer, husband Donald, daughter Victoria (Todd) Gray, brother Jerry (Erin) Grimmer, sister Jill Gehweiler, and brother-in-law Thomas Senalik.

She is survived by her children Douglas (Cheryl) Meyer, Cynthia (Michael) Mata, Debra (Michael) Ryan, and son-in-law Todd Gray. She is also survived by all her grandchildren, Andrew (Kimberly) Meyer, Todd Meyer, Christina Meyer, Alethea Gray, Gordon Gray, Aurelia Gray, Clare Ryan, Nathan Ryan, and Elise Ryan, and her sister Barbara Senalik and brother John “Jack” (Susan MacKnight) Grimmer.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, January 13, from 11am to 1pm at Davenport funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake. A Memorial Mass will follow at 1:30pm at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, with a luncheon afterwards in the church community room.

In lieu of flowers, tribute donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association .