Mary Lena “Lee” Hanrahan, 95, formerly of Ottawa, passed away on October 28, 2016 at the home of her son in Wheaton.
A Memorial Mass will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Naplate, with Rev. Anthony Fevlo, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date.
Mrs. Hanrahan was born July 17, 1921 in Standard, IL to Erio and Ida (Borri) Bernardoni. She married Carlyle F. Hayes August 26, 1941 in Vandalia, IL and Sanford E. Hanrahan April 28, 1965 in North Miami Beach, FL.
She graduated from Ottawa High School in 1938 and Northern IL State Teachers College in Dekalb, in 1941. After finishing Teachers College, she taught several years in LaSalle County one-room school houses. The World War II attack on Pearl Harbor and marriage to an enlisted service man, took her away from Illinois. In order to find employment, she was encouraged to use the training from Ottawa High School business courses and from Teachers College, she was able to pursue careers as Medical Transcriptionist, and as Legal Secretary and Trust Accountant for over 40 years before returning from FL to IL in 1985.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Naplate, Altar and Rosary Society, and was a volunteer at Ottawa Regional Hospital, formerly Community Hospital of Ottawa.
She is survived by two children, Dr. John K. Hayes (Mary Jane) of Wheaton, Joan Elizabeth (Ron) McLemore of Branson, MO; two grandchildren, John Robert Hayes and Jenna Marie Hayes of Wheaton.
She was preceded in death by her 1st and 2nd husband, her parents, one sister in infancy, and her brothers Frank E. and John Bernardoni.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Church in Naplate.
Mary Lena has been laid to rest in the Garden of Prayer.