Mary Kay Vandernald

Mary Kay Vandernald passed away on November 19, 2025. She was 82 years old.

Born on April 14, 1943, Mary Kay grew up in Lake Villa, Illinois. She was the daughter of Warren O. Brown and Eloise Brown, and the sister of Warren R. Brown.

Mary Kay attended Grayslake High School, where she formed lifelong friendships and began shaping the interests and values that guided her throughout her life. She played the French Horn and with nary a mean girl bone in her body got elected Prom Queen. She later continued her education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, completing two years of study there.

Mary Kay married Walter “Bud” H. Vandernald Jr., and together they built a life rooted in family and adventure. She is the loving mother of Walter H. Vandernald III.

Over the years, Mary Kay made her home in Barrington, Illinois, where she built a successful career at the First National Bank (Harris) of Barrington. She loved the outdoors, hiking, camping and canoeing. She also loved culture and shared experiences of attending museums, symphonies, operas, and sporting events. This instilled an appreciation of nature, history, art, music, and performance with those she loved. Mary Kay loved to play bridge with her friends. Jazzercise was one of her favorite outlets. She loved to give back to the community and volunteered at Good Shepherd Hospital for years.

She is survived by her husband, Bud, and her son, Walter.

If compelled please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.