Mary Michelle Wozniak, 71, passed away May 2, 2026. She was born in Chicago on September 6, 1954, the daughter of William Paton and Genevieve (Kuykendall) Paton
Mary was a proud Chicagoan, growing up in the Norwood Park neighborhood. She attended Immaculate Conception and was a 1972 graduate of Taft High School. Mary married Gary Clements in 1975; they enjoyed 34 happy years together before Gary's passing in 2009. Mary was a proud mother of her four children, raising them in Palatine where she was constantly involved in the school system and served for several years as the PTA president of the local grade school. She worked at Little City, where she developed a love for caring for children with special needs. This inspired Mary to obtain her teaching certificate at Northern Illinois University, and later her masters from Concordia. After graduation, Mary worked as a special education teacher in both D300 in Carpentersville and District 15 in Palatine, where she retired after 25 years. Mary was influential to hundreds of children and maintained her passion even after retirement when she supported D300 as a district substitute. In 2011, Mary reunited with and married her childhood friend, Paul Wozniak, and lived in Algonquin for 15 years together. Mary enjoyed spending time with family, reading, writing, attending youth sporting events, the Colorado mountains and in recent years, attending political rallies.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Gary Clements; son, Andrew Clements; and her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Paul Wozniak; daughters, Christina (Kevin) Wagenknecht, Ginger Purgatorio, and Tracy Jones; daughter-in-law, Kate Clements; grandchildren, Catherine (Kyle) Halek, Heather Wagenknecht, Tucker, Trevor, and Torunn Purgatorio, Owen and Emmett Clements, and Elsie Boshers; great grandchildren, Kiera, Kade, Damon, and Callie; siblings Sheila (Stephen) Broska and Greg Paton; and by the Wozniak children, Kasia (Bart) Buboltz, Sam (Deena), Dan (Lili), Thaddeus (Noelle), Dave, and Joe Wozniak; and grandchildren, Simone, James, Yaya, Kai, Westley, Pacey, and Alexander. Mary was beloved by many cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews.
A memorial visitation will be held from 1:00pm- 4:00pm, on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at DeFiore Funeral and Cremation Services, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley, IL 60142.
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I will miss our conversations and the joyful way you said my name. You had the most beautiful soul. Rest in Peace. 🙏♥️🙏
Mary touched my heart the only time we met. Bart and Kasia’s Bridal shower. We are so sorry for your loss. Was glad our paths have crossed! Sending hugs to all of you!!
She was one e of a kind. A wonderful person.Heaven i will be much more organized withe her there. Rest in peace my friend. Love, Mark
Mary was truly one of the most special people I have ever known. Working beside her for 12 wonderful years was such a blessing, and I will forever cherish the memories we shared in our classroom, our daily talks, our laughter, and the way we worked together to encourage and care for every child who walked through our door. Mary had the kindest heart, endless patience, and a gift for making everyone feel safe, loved, and important. She touched so many lives, including mine, in ways words can never fully express. I will deeply miss my dear friend, our conversations, her wisdom, and her beautiful smile. My heart is so heavy knowing she is gone, but I feel incredibly grateful to have known and loved her. Rest peacefully, Mary. You will always hold a special place in my heart. Love, Geneen Olmetti
It was a wonderful gift to be a friend of Mary’s. We were able to stay connected through substitute teaching I did in Palatine. Our hearts were connected in the love of our families and the ties were developed throu the friendship of our sons, Andy and Brady. It brings me joy that she will be able to hold her boy again in peace. I love them both. God bless Mary and Andy, two beautiful souls.
RIP my dear friend. Your beautiful smile and positivity will always be remembered. I’m so grateful we stayed in touch through the years. Sending hugs and prayers to the family.
The wisdom you shared will always remain with us and that way you’ll always be immortal in our memories! RIP dear friend and bloom the other room with colors, joy and fragrance of your love as you did to this world during your majestic presence!! Om Shanti🙏
My dearest friend Mary, it has been 3 weeks since you left us, and I haven't had the heart to post this sooner for fear it might make it real. Your sudden & tragic loss is still so surreal and too painful for me to fully comprehend. I sorely miss our daily phone calls - keeping each other sane these last 10+ years. Our texts went on for days, and I will treasure them always. My days are so different now without you. The only solace is knowing you are now reunited with your lost loved ones. Our lifelong friendship began when we met in Freshman year of Taft high school in 1968. So many great memories of driving around in your white Rambler with Maggie May blasting on the radio. You always called me GRANO, as you called all your friends by their last name ... that always cracked me up. As time and life went on, we always stayed close, managed to stay in touch, and pick up right where we left off - no matter how much time had passed. All the big milestones shared: weddings, children, grandchildren, graduations, birthdays. We saw each other thru our various tragedies together. You helped me through grueling cancer treatments just by being there and being you - coming into the city from Algonquin every week; always knowing the right things to say & do to lighten the load. Your own losses and tragedies were always handled with seemingly super-human grace and wisdom. What a wonderful and impactful life you had! Wife, mother, sister, Aunt. stepmother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher, mentor, activist and all-around positive influence on any who knew you. You never met a stranger. Your impact on this world will echo and grow thru the family, friends, students, co-workers and acquaintances you've left behind. Such a strong, beautiful life and family built with Gary, only to lose him too soon. I'm so happy you and Paul found each other again, expanding your family, your love and your influence even further than it had already reached. How special it has been for me to be a part of all the many versions of Mary, as you and your family evolved and progressed. Thru all those changes and growth, you never lost yourself, never really changed ... still just Mary. And Mary was always so much to so many. I can't truly know the loss and grief of Paul and your family. But from your impact on me, and the ensuing vacancy, pain & sorrow I now feel, I can surely relate and empathize. I am truly so sorry for all of your loss. Goodbye & Fare well my Maggie May: Best & Dearest Friend. I will love you and miss you every day of my life, until we meet again, wherever that might be. Then we can pick up again, right where we left off ..... What a day that will be! - Forever yours, GRANO
Though sad your gifted banter has ceased Your garnered peace by His eternal gift is comforting.