Mary Patricia Davis (née Gibbons), 90, died peacefully on March 3, 2026, in North Riverside. Born in Chicago, she lived a life marked by adventure, exploration, curiosity, devotion to family, and a deep appreciation for learning, beauty, and faith. Over the course of her life she made homes in Chicago; New Orleans, Louisiana; St. Cloud, Minnesota; Waukegan; Marion, Indiana; Thousand Oaks, California; River Forest; San Diego, California, and Santa Rosa, California, before returning to the Chicago area in her final years.
She shared 56 years of marriage with her husband, William “Bill” Davis PhD, until his passing in 2023. Together they built a life rich with family, laughter, constant learning, lively debate, Twelfth Night parties, many moves, and travel.
A lifelong learner and teacher, she taught English and journalism at Lane Tech High School and Mother Guerin High School and shared her love of art with her children and their classmates as a “Picture Lady” in River Forest elementary schools. She delighted in helping others see the world more closely and thoughtfully. Her intellectual curiosity was boundless. She was a voracious reader, a devoted student of scripture, and a lover of opera, art, music, and nature. Attending daily Mass was among her most cherished routines. She taught religious education classes and served as a lector and Eucharistic minister in her many home parishes.
Mary is survived by her children, Mary Davis (John) Fournier, John (Donna) Davis, Anne (Peter Menard) Davis, and Joseph Davis; her grandchildren, Maya, John (“Jack”), Barrett, and Clayton Davis; Katharine and Sebastian Fournier; and Clara and Tabitha Davis-Menard; her siblings, Michael (Shelley) Gibbons, and Francis (Ann) Gibbons; and by her sister-in-law, Kathleen Gibbons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her son, William “Will” Davis; and her siblings, Austin (Helen) Gibbons, William (Kathleen) Gibbons, and Thomas Gibbons; and the aunt, cousin, and friend to many. She will be remembered for her warmth, curiosity, generosity of spirit, and a kindness that remained steady and bright.
A funeral Mass will be held at Ascension Catholic Church, 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park at 10 a.m. on May 16.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Caledonia Senior Living, 2800 Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546, where Mary received love and friendship from their kind and dedicated group of caregivers in her final years. Inurnment private.
Arrangements were handled by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st St., Brookfield.
