The name Maria Mercedes Pagán In the afternoon of December 31, 2023, at 2:20 p.m., Maria (Mary) Mercedes Pagán, who was 78 years old, passed away in a calm and serene manner at her residence in New Lenox, Illinois. Mary is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 54 years, John Pagán, and her beloved daughters; Maria Elena (Nick) Goutos, Patricia Pagán, and Veronica Pagán, and her adored grandchildren; Isabella Valentina Pagán, Ryan Joseph Drysch.
Liam Johnathan Drysch, and George John Goutos, her close-knit siblings; Joseph Soto (Rachel), Rosemary Enriquez (José), Frank Soto (Diane), Edward Soto (Sharon), Gloria Tumino (Sam), and Tony Soto (Joyce), her numerous nieces and nephews, her many beloved students, colleagues, the members of the St. Jude Catholic Church, and the wonderful Knights of Columbus.
Her parents, Joseph and Maria Soto, as well as her sister, Margie Leinweber, passed away before she was born. The heart of Mary, which was filled with love and generosity, will be remembered for all time. At all times, she prioritised the needs of others before her own, even while she was ill. She had a continual desire to assist individuals who were in need in any manner that she could.
Mary possessed a kind and patient nature, and those who were fortunate enough to have known her were engulfed in the warmth of her love and compassion. Mary devoted her entire life to teaching children, particularly her own, while maintaining her steadfast devotion to the Catholic faith throughout her entire life. Over the course of more than four decades, Mary was a devoted educator at the Chicago Public School.
Lafayette School in Chicago was where she began her career as a teacher. She went on to work at a number of other schools, such as Wicker Park School (which is now known as A.N. Pritzker School), Brighton Park School, and Burroughs School, to name just a few. During the time that A.N. Pritzker was teaching at Wicker Park School, she extended an invitation to Mary and a few of her pupils to visit the White House. While they were there, they had the opportunity to meet Vice President Walter F. Mondale.
Mary made learning interesting, and as a result, her students were always eager and delighted to attend school. She was nominated for a Golden Apple Award, and she was extremely dedicated to her job. In the course of her time working for the Chicago Public Schools, she had a profound impact on the lives of both her students and her coworkers. Mary brought a great deal of joy to her family and friends by sharing the culinary and artistic creations that she had made. Her talents in the kitchen and artistic flare delighted many people.
Her family and her Mexican background were two things that she took great pride in. Mary embraced both her own culture and the culture of her husband by teaching their children and grandkids the traditions and rituals of both their Mexican and Puerto Rican heritages.
Those who were fortunate enough to have known her will be profoundly affected by her passing because she was the matriarch of the family. Her legacy will be indelibly imprinted on the hearts of all those who had the opportunity to know her.
