Marcyana Clair Wasinski

Marcy Wasinski passed away peacefully on July 7, 2025, at the age of 82.

Marcy grew up in the Gage Park neighborhood of Chicago, in St. Gall’s Parish. She was born July 1, 1943 to Frank and Clara Wasinski. The Wasinski household included her Uncle Jim Wos, who inspired her love for learning, and favorite aunts Stella and Julie Wos.

Marcy raised her son John in the same community. An active mom, she loved to find civic activities, workshops, tours, and classes that she could enjoy with John. She connected with the branches of the Chicago Public Libraries, the Chicago Park District, community organizations, museums, zoos, and aquariums to grow together in the spirit of curiosity and lifelong learning. Marcy, John, and Aunt Julie partnered to take great care of our family home, backyard garden, and pets, and Marcy helped Julie stay healthy and active into her 90s.

She worked for Sears Bank from 1961-1973 and enjoyed longtime friendships with her work family who were from all parts of the city. She began social work classes at the Central YMCA College in downtown Chicago in 1970, and volunteered in community social work in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. She resumed working in the accounting/bookkeeping field for auto repair, retail, and chemical manufacturing companies, including 13 years at Crosfield Catalyst of Chicago.

Marcy moved to Oak Lawn, Illinois in 1994, Porter County, Indiana in 2000, and Westerville, Ohio in 2021. Marcy found ways to be engaged and involved in each of her communities. A new phase of her career included being on the opening team of the Valparaiso Target store, where she stayed 17 years. She served on staff at the Porter County Boys & Girls Club, and after a brief break in her mid-70s, worked for three years at the Valparaiso YMCA in childcare, an opportunity she truly cherished.

Marcy took night and weekend classes to complete her undergraduate degree in 1984 at St. Xavier College in Chicago. She began the social work graduate program at Loyola University’s downtown Water Tower Campus in 1986, which included an extended internship at Children’s Memorial Hospital. She resumed her education in 2023 with Indiana Wesleyan University National & Global Campus after mobility issues limited her time outside of home. From 2023 through summer 2025, she completed an undergraduate certificate program in Life Coaching, and completed seven of ten of her graduate courses toward the goal of a Master’s Degree in Psychology with a Life Coaching and Positive Psychology emphasis.

Marcy volunteered for the St. Linus Parish special education program (Oak Lawn, IL). She was a leader for St. Gall’s Cub Scout Pack 3697 and served on the board for Scout Troop 697. She served on boards and advisory groups at St. Gall, and taught children’s religious education classes at Our Lady of Peace (Porter County, IN). Marcy served as an adoption advisor at the Independent Cat Society (Westville, IN), and volunteered for several years at the Porter County Animal Shelter. She volunteered in nature education programs at Taltree Arboretum of Valparaiso and the Oak Lawn Park District. Recently she assisted with St. Paul summertime religious education programs (Westerville, OH), and since 2021 volunteered for Mommies Matter (Central Ohio).

She served in mission with the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary (SSCM) as a member of the Affiliate Advisory Board, and participated in online poetry writing workshops led by the Sisters and in other SSCM programs into her 80’s. Marcy enjoyed participating in Spring Forest Qigong programs and workshops online through the 2010s and 2020s. In her twenties Marcy explored the religious diaspora of Chicago which deepened her appreciation for cultural diversity.

A sports fan, Marcy was devoted to the Chicago White Sox, a love shared with her lifelong friend Sr. Carol Karnitsky, SSCM. Marcy followed the seasons of the Chicago Blackhawks, Cubs, Bulls, and Bears games even after moving to Indiana and then Ohio. She shared her love of sports with her father Frank, who took her to the 1959 World Series Game 6 on a schoolday, and her son John. John introduced her to lacrosse in the mid-2010s and she became a fast fan of University of Notre Dame lacrosse, Ohio State, and the Premier Lacrosse League. Marcy and John shared many Sox games, Bulls games in the 1990s, minor league baseball games, Notre Dame Lacrosse, and high school and college sports across Chicagoland and the region.

Marcy leaves behind her son John, best friend Sr. Carol, the Rydecki and Golembeski family cousins, cousin Sandra Wasinski, and cousin Matt Wos. Her pet family was special to her including Cali and Chessie Cat, John’s cat Spencer, and earlier in life she was especially devoted to her border collie/shepherd Casey, John’s best friend Astro, her childhood dog Amber, and many small and large animals of all kinds through the years.

Marcy lived a simple and gentle life of service. Throughout her life, she exemplified resilience and resourcefulness. She lived a life in support of multicultural, interfaith, and intergenerational communities; families and children; nature; equality; love and service; peace; grace; and above all, a wholehearted commitment to being present for others.

With gratitude to the people of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Mount Carmel-St. Ann’s Hospital, Westerville Fire and EMS, Birge & Held, Columbus Speech & Hearing, Columbus Laser, National Church Residences Home Health, the Westerville Area Resource Ministry, Westerville Public Library, Catholic Social Services of Columbus-Senior Companions, Indiana Wesleyan University National and Global Campus, and the Sisters and community of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, who have all made her most challenging years very safe, healthy, happy and bright.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Silverstray Social (Gary, Indiana), or the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary (Kankakee, Illinois).