Mary Carpenter

Mary Margaret (Diedrich) Carpenter, 94, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

Born May 26, 1918, in DeKalb, the daughter of Fred and Clara (Driscoll) Diedrich, Mary married Oliver Arthur “Ollie” Carpenter on April 18, 1942, at St. Mary Catholic Church, DeKalb.

In her early 20s, Mary took on a six-month temporary assignment at IDEAL Industries. This turned into a 40-year career in its trust and accounting departments. Mary loved her work experience and often spoke fondly of her co-workers and the company.

She met Ollie at a dance at the Sycamore Armory. Over the next year, they formed a strong love and friendship that was the basis for a 68-year marriage. Ollie was the “front man” in their relationship, but behind the scenes Mary was the organized and strong partner who kept things on track.

For many years, Mary and Ollie made their home on Delcy Drive in DeKalb, where lifetime friendships were made as they and their neighbors, all young couples, painted, planted, and raised families. In 2002, they moved to Oak Crest, where Mary again made a warm and comfortable home for them.

Mary’s interests were gardening, needlepoint, traveling and dancing. She was a parishioner at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb her entire life and served in many volunteer capacities for the parish. Her faith was very important to her and she lived the tenets of the church. She also was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, the Kishwaukee Community Hospital Auxiliary and the Oak Crest Red Hat Society. She is survived by her brothers, Loras and John (Donna); many nieces, nephews and extended family, as well as too many friends to count.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ollie, in 2011; brothers, Robert and Arthur; sister, Eileen; and numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.