Mount Prospect educator dedicated life to children, helping poor

Mary Van Wazer left St. Zachary Catholic School in Des Plaines more than 20 years ago to become principal of St. Benedict School in Chicago, but her former students still remember the impact she made on their lives.

Van Wazer, of Mount Prospect, passed away on Sunday. She was 78.

"I became an educator because of her," says Susan Jaegers Dixon, now a seventh-grade teacher at Chippewa Middle School in Des Plaines. "Every day I strive to be a role model, cheerleader, and a teacher for my students, which is exactly what Mrs. Van Wazer was to all the children she had in class."

Van Wazer taught for 25 years at St. Zachary's. Most of those years were spent in the primary grades, but she finished out her career teaching eighth grade social studies and preparing students for the U.S. Constitution test.

"In Mrs. Van Wazer's class, there was more to teaching than textbooks and tests," says Heather Banach Terry of Round Lake Heights. "She made learning fun."

One of Van Wazer's colleague's, Maureen Raftery of Schaumburg, taught fourth grade next door to Van Wazer's third grade room and said she could feel the energy.

"You could tell she was happy teaching," Raftery said, adding that her room was filled with interesting things to intrigue students' imaginations.

Another colleague, Joanne Childers, added: "She just clicked with her students."

Van Wazer left St. Zachary's in 1992 to accept the principal job of St. Benedict's, which she led for the next 10 years.

In retirement, however, Van Wazer took on even more responsibility. Both she and her husband, Tom, volunteered for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, based locally at their parish.

Some of their activities included serving dinners at Catholic Charities in Des Plaines, and coordinating the soup kitchen. Van Wazer also organized women in the parish to bundle food baskets which they delivered to the poor over the holidays.

Most recently, Van Wazer worked with officials at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines to launch a thrift store.

Van Wazer joined the Chicago Archdiocese's Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, first as a board member and as its president, from 2006-2012.

"In serving as president (Mary) directed the operation of 124 (St. Vincent de Paul societies at) parishes in Cook and Lake counties, and their 2,400 volunteers," said Michael Harrington of Elmhurst, who succeeded her as president.

"In a typical year, we would serve more than 500,000 people in Cook and Lake counties," Harrington added. "Like most of us, she was dedicated to the mission of St. Vincent de Paul, of serving the poor."

Van Wazer was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas. She is survived by her children Thomas (Lauren), Mary Kay (Todd) Looney and Barbara Jean (Dan) Murphy; as well as six grandchildren.

Visitation will take place from 3-9 p.m. Friday at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St., before a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass Saturday at St. Zachary Church, 567 Algonquin Road, both in Des Plaines.