Mary Carolyn Aldridge (nee Peter)  May 10, 1930-May 17, 2023

Mary Aldridge was born on May 10, 1930 in Chicago Heights, Illinois. She was the daughter of Willard Armistad Peter and Mary Lee Peter (nee Caldwell). She was a graduate of Bloom Township High School and the Pestalozzi Froebel Teacher's College. Mary married her high school sweetheart Ed Aldridge in 1952. She and Ed had 3 children: Steven Edward (1955), Kathleen Lee (Kaylee) (1957), and David Peter (1960). Mary and Ed raised their family in Park Forest, IL in a wonderful neighborhood surrounded by lifetime friends to this day.

Mary was a teacher through and through. She taught at various schools in Park Forest and Chicago Heights- both public and private throughout her lifetime, and even continued to teach pre-school when she moved to Warrenville, IL in 2003.

She loved to sing and always had a "silly song" to share with her students, family and friends. Mary was always quick to lead an impromptu craft activity with family and friends, or take a nature or berry picking walk while at the family's forever favorite vacation spot-Shady Nook Resort, in northern Wisconsin where she is still affectionately known by friends as "Mother Mary".

Mary was a woman of strong faith and actively served and participated in various churches throughout her lifetime. She most recently attended the Batavia Covenant Church and Chapelstreet Church. Mary moved into Covenant Living at the Holmstad in Batavia, IL in 2006 and was excited to be a part of the Christian community there. She loved all the special programs, the Sunday evening chapel services and nightly dinners with "the girls". In true Mary form, she took charge of making dinner reservations for her dinner groups each evening.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Edward in 1978 and her loving sister Patricia Gineris (nee Peter) in 2003. Mary is survived by Steve and Carol Aldridge (nee Johnson), Kevin and Kaylee Gallagher (nee Aldridge) and David Aldridge. She was the loving grandmother of Erin LeBlanc (nee Aldridge), Matthew Aldridge, Sean Aldridge, Kelly and Neal Gallagher and Bryan, Kerri, and Brad Aldridge. She was great grandmother of Beauden, Killian, Quinn and Lochlan LeBlanc, and Riley and Raegan Aldridge.

A Celebration of Mary's Life will be held at the Holmstad in Batavia, IL at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday June 4th, 2023 with a visitation preceding the service at 1:00 p.m. and refreshments to follow.  The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Mary's honor to Covenant Living at the Holmstad -Benevolence Fund, 700 W. Fabyan Parkway Batavia, IL 60510.