Mary Patricia Cunningham

Mary Patricia (Mrachek) Cunningham was born June 5, 1948, in Winona, MN to George and Ruth (Meier) Mrachek. At an early age, her family moved to McHenry, IL where Mary Pat grew up attending St. Patrick’s grade school and McHenry High School. During her school years she participated in the Viscount Drum & Bugle Corps and the Viscount Color Guard, where she made many lifelong friends. On November 30, 1968, she married William Cunningham. They moved to Cary, IL where their three sons Chad, Tim, and Brian were born. In 1980, they moved to rural Harvard, IL where she lived for the next 44 years. Mary Pat lost her two yearlong battle with cancer on November 30, 2024.

Mary Pat was a people person and made many friends through her work, involvement with her children and grandchildren’s schools, and community activities. Mary Pat enjoyed ocean cruises, river cruises, NASCAR races, tractor shows, travel throughout the United States, but most of all, her trips to Las Vegas with the “GIRLS” for many years. Mary Pat, with husband Bill, traveled all over Northern IL and Southern WI to watch her children and grandchildren play sports. A little-known fact about Mary Pat, she taught a course at McHenry County College for several years- Keypunching. In the pre-computer world, that was a way to store data on small cards.

Mary Pat is survived by her husband Bill; sons Chad (Jamie), Tim (Salina) and Brian (Julie); grandchildren Tyler, Sierra, Ryan, Jared, Savannah, Addison and Kendra; a brother Robert (Darlene); nephews Jeff, Mike (Maggie) Mrachek and many cousins.

The memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 11 AM until 3 PM at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, 107 W. Sumner St., Harvard, IL 60033.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 491, 1331 Riverside Drive, McHenry, IL 60050.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.saundersmcfarlin.net

For more information, call Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home at 815-943-5400.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.