Mary M. Sicich - 95

Edwardsville, Illinois

Mary Magdalena Sicich nee Frigo, aged 95, passed away peacefully, with her children at her side, at her home in Edwardsville, IL. Sunday, January 22, 2023. Mary left her home, at age 17, having worked to make ends meet in her family as a youth. She moved to Florida where she began her career as a ship to shore operator with Southern Bell, making her own way in the world, until she returned to Chicago and married the love of her life, John Sicich, in 1953. She built a happy home with him, while they raised their two children, John, and Jeanne.  She continued working with Illinois Bell until her retirement. Her life stories could fill a wildly entertaining book; however, she informed her Granddaughter that she intended to take those stories to the grave. What can be shared with the world is that she was the fiercest Italian mama and most loyal protector for her family. She delighted in slipping her grandkids a $20 and telling them to go buy themselves a hamburger with it. (This was of course when hamburgers cost roughly $6.) She was an excellent self-taught chef who filled her kitchen with love - her homemade ravioli brought many friends and families together over the years. She was well-known for inviting you to cook alongside her. If you were one of the privileged few to receive such an invitation, you knew better than to share the recipe outside those walls. She had a deep reverence for delicious food, and she was partial to Hennessy. She never met a stranger, and she was the grandest of storytellers for anyone lucky enough to listen. Mary was preceded in death 36 years ago by her husband and love of her life, John Sicich. Despite many suitors’ futile attempts in the following decades, she remained forever dedicated to him. She never remarried. She was also preceded in death by her father Fortunato Sicich, mother Gasparina nee Fraccaro, and brothers John Frigo, Fred (late Dorothy) Frigo, Albino (late Alice) Frigo, and Valentine (late Rose) Frigo. She is survived by her sister Catherine Frigo, her son John (Margarita) Coyle, daughter Jean (Patrick) Coyle, grandchildren Stephanie (Nicholas Freeling) Sicich, Patrick (Amanda) Coyle, Christopher Sicich, and Bianca Sicich, great-grandchildren Emma Coyle, Everett Coyle, Evelyn and Remington Coyle-Freeling, many nieces, and nephews. We look forward to her making good on her promise to haunt us.

Resting at Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home, 530 W 14th Street (US Rt 30, 3 blks E of Western Ave), Chicago Heights on Friday January 27, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral Saturday January 28, 2023, 11:15 am from funeral home to St John Neumann Church (formerly St Joseph Church), 17951 S Dixie Highway, Homewood. Mass 12:00 Noon. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip. Info 708-481-9230 and panozzobros.com.