MaryAnn "Manya" Nowak

MaryAnn Nowak, fondly known to all as "Manya", age 89, of Crete, Illinois and formerly of Chicago Heights, Illinois passed away Monday, December 8, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Born and raised in Chicago Heights, Manya was the youngest child of Thomas and Helen Nowak, and the cherished little sister of the Emily Nowak, Stella (Joseph) Bijak Sr., Adam (Mary) Nowak, Elizabeth (Mario) Scampini, and Alexander Nowak (Evelyn and Louella).

A proud graduate of Bloom High School, Class of 1954, Manya built a life defined by hard work, devotion to faith, and unmistakable generosity of spirit. She held many roles throughout her life - ticket taker at Nortown Theater, a member of the layaway department at Kline's, secretary at Joliet Draperies, and later a church secretary for her close friend, Father Jack, at St. Joseph's Church in Chicago Heights. She retired from Joliet Draperies, but she never retired from living fully, giving freely, or loving deeply.

Though Manya never married, she embraced a role perhaps even bigger - bonus mom, champion, and constant presence to her beloved nieces and nephews. Known to all as a no-nonsense "Garage Sale Queen" Auntie Manya, she was fun-loving, thoughtful, deeply spiritual, and wonderfully direct. She watched over sixteen nieces and nephews, babysitting for all of them, traveling with some, cheering for each without hesitation, and loving every one without condition. Her circle only grew larger throughout her life, as she also became great aunt to 33 nieces and nephews, great-great-aunt to 22 more, and proud grand-aunt to one special dog, Jackson.

In the words of her niece, Kim: "She's the last of all her siblings... she was truly a unique woman. She lived life on her own terms. She was deeply devoted to family, stayed single when all women were supposed to be married, worked her whole life, and devoted time to bingo, choir, babysitting... she was always doing and giving. She was the second mom to all her nieces. She was a tough cookie with a huge heart."

Memorial Visitation to be held Friday, December 19, 2025 from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Smits – Steger Memorial Chapel, 3045 Chicago Rd., Steger, Illinois 60475. Memorial Mass to be held Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Heights – Kieran Site, 724 W. 195th Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411. Inurnment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, Steger, Illinois. For further information, please call 708-755-6100 or visit our online guestbook and obituary at www.SMITSFH.com.