Mary Ellen Small

Mary Ellen (nee LaPres) Small, age 82, of South Holland, IL, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023. Mary Ellen was born December 20, 1940, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Thomas and Marie (nee Crowe) LaPres.

Mary Ellen attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School and married Daniel C. Small in 1959. They moved to South Holland in 1963 where they raised their five children. Mary Ellen and Dan were members of Holy Ghost Church. Mary Ellen worked as a secretary at St. Jude Catholic School in South Holland and Cardinal Bernadin Catholic School in Orland Hills.

Mary Ellen was a fierce supporter of her children, attending many sporting and extracurricular events from Little League baseball games to college softball games. She was an avid Chicago Sox fan.

She was survived by her husband, Dan and five children: Kevin (Linda) Small, Laura Small, Jean (Rob) Fredrickson, Tom (Tammy) Small and Rita (Adam) Stone, 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.