Mary Helen Kovacs, age 42, of Winfield, Illinois, passed away on Saturday morning, October 19, 2024.  The cause of death was leiomyosarcoma, a rare, incurable form of soft tissue cancer.

Mary Helen was born on January 7, 1982, in Des Moines, Iowa.  She was the beloved daughter of William and Agnes Kovacs and younger sister to Wendy (Kovacs) Cortes. She was named after her grandmothers.  In 1990, her family relocated to Winfield, Illinois.  She graduated from West Chicago High School in 2000 and then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in 2004.  At Marquette she enjoyed being the token Unitarian questioning some of her professors.

Her most recent position was being an Event Planner at the University of Chicago.  When her colleagues learned of her cancer diagnosis they gave her a huge LoveSac in which she spent many hours listening to podcasts and the music she loved as her illness progressed.

She is survived by her loving parents, William and Agnes Kovacs; her sister, Wendy (Kovacs) Cortes; her brother-in-law Ivan Cortes; her cherished niece Sasha Cortes and cherished nephew Ethan Cortes. Mary Helen is also mourned by her many friends and colleagues who were touched by her kindness and supported her in her quest to find her own answers to life's challenges.  She spent her free time with friends and family. She loved to travel, try new foods and spend time in nature.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, William and Margaret Kovacs and Raymond and Daphanee Hileman.  Fortunately all four lived long enough for her to know and love them before they passed.

The family extends special thanks to Mary Helen's best friend, Paige Lacour, for her unwavering help and support while Mary Helen was enduring chemotherapy.

A celebration of Mary Helen's life will be held at 2:00pm on November 23rd at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 1828 Old Naperville Rd, Naperville, IL 60563.