Naperville's Cowlishaw remembered for commitment to education

She was a teacher, a journalist, a dedicated public servant. She was also a beloved wife, mother and friend.

Mary Lou Cowlishaw's loved ones remembered her as all of these and more during a funeral service Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Naperville. Cowlishaw, who had been battling cancer, died on June 23 at the age of 78.

Cowlishaw made an impact on people's lives in a startling variety of ways. She was a feature writer at the Naperville Sun. She served for 11 years on the Naperville Unit District 203 school board. She served for 20 years as a state representative in the General Assembly. And, most recently, she worked as an adjunct professor at Naperville's North Central College.

"She was a magnificent teacher, always lifting up her pupils," North Central College President Hal Wilde said during Saturday's service.

All of those who paid tribute to Cowlishaw on Saturday said that her true passion was ensuring that children in Naperville, in Illinois and even across the country had access to a good education.

"She had the timing of a master comedian," Wilde said, "but behind it was a message about education and kids and opportunity."

Cowlishaw grew up in Rockford and moved to Naperville in 1958. During her time in the General Assembly she worked tirelessly for public school reform in Chicago and led the way on legislation that created the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora. She was named Illinois Legislator of the Year in 1994.

U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, who worked with Cowlishaw in the General Assembly before running for Congress, said Cowlishaw encouraged her to sponsor a bill in Congress that would make it easier for homeless children across the country to enroll in school. Cowlishaw had already lobbied for a similar law in Illinois. The national bill eventually became law.

"I believe in local control," Biggert said, "but then I realized that the other 49 states in the union didn't have a Mary Lou Cowlishaw."

Naperville Mayor George Pradel said there was a toughness and determination hidden inside Cowlishaw's warm and friendly demeanor.

"She didn't care if you were the mayor of Chicago or if you were in Congress, she had a message and she was going to give it," he said.

Wilma Reschke, a friend and colleague of Cowlishaw's on the District 203 school board, said Cowlishaw always impressed her fellow board members with her fighting spirit.

"When we said something was 'impossible,' we meant it couldn't be done," Reschke said. "Mary Lou didn't see it like that. To her, 'impossible' was just another degree of difficulty."

Cowlishaw is survived by her husband, Wayne, their three children and their eight grandchildren. After Saturday's service, Cowlishaw was buried in Naperville Cemetery.