Mary LaBotz (nee Backas) passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022, with her sisters by her side. She was born on May 7, 1959, to Paul Backas and Josephine Betty Doyle. She was a sister to Karen, Robert, Lois (Gene Byrne), Paula (Peter Newbery), and Meg (Mark Zablocki) Backas. She married Fred LaBotz (who preceded her in death), and became family to John and Jean LaBotz, and Ann (Gregg Mundt) LaBotz. Mary and Fred had two children, Maureen (Jeremy) and Matthew. Mary loved nothing more than to spend time with her two grandchildren, Jordan and Evan. Mary was a beloved "Buddy" to her nieces and nephews: Mary (Jim Alessi) Slotkowski, Maggie (Brandon Carrel) Byrne, and Peter (Rebecca Wolfe) Byrne. She was a great aunt to Sean, Leo, Conor, Paul, and Baby Bingo. Mary worked as a special education teacher at Homewood Flossmoor High School, a job that she loved and excelled at. In the VAST program, she touched the lives of so many students, families, co-workers, and community members. Mary loved to read and was a member of several book clubs. She baked and decorated cakes for birthdays, a talent she inherited from her Aunt Marge. She loved to travel, both locally to places like Gobles with her cousins, or Galena with her sisters, as well as internationally like visiting her daughter in Costa Rica or touring Europe with friends and Lois. She was a person that would go above and beyond for anyone and loved spending her retirement meeting up with new and old friends. We will miss Mary dearly but are so grateful for the time we all had with her, and the positive impact that she made on each of our lives. Visitation for Mary will be held on Wednesday, August 10,2022 from 4:00 P.M. until time of Celebration of Life Service 7:00 P.M. at the Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory 1801 S. Douglas Road, Oswego, Il. 60543. Cremation rites will be accorded following services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mary LaBotz Scholarship Fund, PO Box 665, Oswego, IL 60543. For additional information; 630-554-3888 or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com