Mary Ann Howard

Mary Ann Howard, age 57, entered eternal life peacefully, surrounded by her family on December 31, 2020. Mary was born on October 17, 1963, son of the late Ivan and Anna Furgal. She is survived by her husband, Robert Howard, her children, Jennifer Howard (and her son Evan), Elizabeth Sweeney (and her husband Danny), Adam Howard (and his wife, Andrea and son, Ian), and Katherine Donaghue (and her husband, Brett Donaghue). Mary graduated from Dwight D Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Ill., and attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She worked for the United States Postal Service for over 20 years. Family and friends were Mary’s passion and delight, and she adored her two grandsons. She enjoyed preparing meals with her daughters for her family and friends, especially over the holidays. She loved to travel, go on road trips with her husband, and go shopping. Mary was selfless and was an exceptional wife and mother. She cared deeply for her family, friends, and others, not out of obligation but because of how she was--she was always the first to offer help and follow through on her word. Mary also loved animals, and they loved her, too. Due to the pandemic, funeral services were privately held, but Mary’s family will hold a Celebration of Life gathering in the late summer or early fall this year. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Mary Howard at the University of Chicago Medicine. Checks may be made payable to the “University of Chicago Medicine” and sent to the following address: University of Chicago Gift Administration and Business Data, Mary Howard Memorial, 5235 S. Harper Court, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60615. Or, you can donate online at: giving.uchicago.edu/mary-howard.