Longtime Sycamore resident, Mary Strom Larson, 79, died on May 4, 2023 surrounded by loved ones after a very sudden and short illness. She is survived by her daughters, Martha Kohlstrand (John) and Ingrid Crepas (Alex), grandchildren Ingrid and Hanlon O'Connor, sisters Eileen Johnson and Martha Cosgrove, and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 55 years, Charles U. Larson.

Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 11 AM, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in DeKalb, Illinois with visitation from 9-11 at the church followed by a light lunch. The services and luncheon will be followed by graveside interment at Elmwood Cemetery in Sycamore, Illinois.

Mary graduated in 1961 from Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She earned an education degree from the University of Minnesota, and graduate degrees from Northern Illinois University. She worked at NIU for most of her career and loved her colleagues and students. Mary made many lifelong friends there.

Mary embraced many interests and passions: she loved her family, her professional life, gardening, and had close friends from all areas of her life. Mary and Charlie loved sharing their home and lovely gardens with friends and family and hosted an annual Tulip Walk in their gardens for years. Mary was a strong and independent woman and a longtime advocate for women's issues. Hers was a life well lived.

Memorials can be made to the Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St., Sycamore, IL 60178.

To sign the online guest book, go to www.butalafuneralhomes.com