It is with great sadness we announce
Stephanie Mahar of Mendota
passed away Sunday, Sept. 7,
2014, in Northwestern Memorial
Hospital in Chicago. She peacefully
passed surrounded by her
husband Barry and family.
Steph was born Nov. 18, 1967,
in Mendota. She graduated from
Earlville High School in 1985 and
from Northern Illinois University
in December of 2012 with a degree
in elementary education. She
was a member of Sts. Peter and
Paul Altar and Rosary Society,
member of Pre and Post Liver
Group at Northwestern Memorial,
and member of the IVCH
Live Life Transplant
Group.
Steph started
the Caregivers
Group meetings
also at Northwestern.
Steph
was the daughter
of Larry and
Lois Leonard.
Steph enjoyed
spending time
with family
and friends and fishing alongside
her husband Barry. She was an
avid sports fan, specifically the
Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Browns
and Chicago Blackhawks. Steph
was a lifelong listener of WGN
Radio and enjoyed everything to
do with the weather and weather
reporting. Steph enjoyed making
trips to watch nieces, nephews,
and cousins play sports or perform
in their activities. Steph took
pride in giving as much of herself
to others and events supporting
the people in her life. Most of all,
Steph's goal and dream was to be
a teacher, which she was able to
accomplish the past school year.
She was passionate about having
a positive impact on the lives of
children and everyone she came
to know.
Steph is survived by her husband,
Barry Mahar; mother, Lois
(Doug) Doermann of Streator;
grandmother, Eleanor (Heitmann)
Sjostrom of Hayward, Wis.; two
brothers, Scott (Carol) Leonard of
La Salle and Pat (Jennifer) Leonard
of Ottawa; and nieces, nephews,
aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by
her father; grandparents Dean
and Marie Leonard; grandfather
Aloysius "Whitey" Heitmann;
stepgrandfather Martin Sjostrom;
nephew Morgan Leonard; uncles
Tom Leonard and Jay Heitmann;
and cousin Capt. Thomas J. Heitmann.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m.
Thursday in Merritt Funeral
Home, Mendota. Mass of Christian
burial is 10:30 a.m. Friday in
Holy Cross Church, Mendota with
the Revs. Bo Schmitt and Tom
Otto officiating. Burial will follow
at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery in
Peterstown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
donations may be directed to the
family. Condolences may be left
for the family.