Mary G. Johnson

Mary (Becker) Johnson was born to German immigrants, Fred (Fritz) and Amalia (Molly) Becker. She was their third child born in 1936 and brought happiness back to the farmhouse after the death of their second son, Benny. Charly was her big brother, and Bill was born in 1939. She went to St. Thomas the Apostle School and attended Crystal Lake Community High School along with her two lifelong girlfriends Onie (Leona Rinn) and Mick (Carol Grivet).

After graduating from high school and working a short time as a dental assistant, she married Richard H. (Dick) Johnson in 1955. They moved to a place his dad had farmed. After five years, they rented a farm in Geneva, Illinois, but that did not work out well, so he quit farming and learned the carpentry trade. They moved to a house they built on Marian Parkway in Crystal Lake in 1962 where they raised three girls and three boys. The boys were all placed in “special education”, and the girls did what they could to help, but the bulk of the responsibilities were Mary’s.

She gave her “spare time” in many ways to the church. She was in the choir, sewed banners and panels to decorate the new St. Thomas church, participated in activities sponsored by the Women’s Club (St. Anthony Guild), cooked sloppy joes for the kids at St. Thomas school, worked at the Little Christopher’s Resale Shoppe, and helped serve meals after funerals, often with her best girlfriends by her side. Later after the kids were out of the house, she directed the meals on wheels program.

She loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother, a gift her oldest daughter Susan gave to her. The youngest daughter, Cathy became a registered nurse and a hospital administrator, eventually moving to Minnesota. Her middle daughter, Christine, left her accounting job to be Mary’s exceptional caregiver and navigated her many chronic medical conditions and allowed her to remain at home in her final days.

Mary is survived by her children, Susan Sebastian, Christine Johnson, Catherine (Chris Nelson) Johnson, and Joseph Johnson; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Matt) Johnson and Dylan Fraase; great-grandchildren, Dayne Johnson and Gavin Johnson; brother, William (Rosemary) Becker; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Johnson; sons, Michael Johnson and Peter Johnson; parents, and brothers.

A visitation for Mary will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 W Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014, followed by a memorial service at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 451 W Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 at 1:15 pm. Burial will follow at Crystal Lake Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Friends of Ann Kiley Center.