Mary A, Labriola

Mary Agnes Labriola (née Kinney), 77, of Alsip and later Bolingbrook, Illinois, passed away on December 16, 2024. Born on June 6, 1947, to Robert “Gene” and Virginia (Moran) Kinney, Mary—affectionately known by her nickname Corky or Corkie (she preferred the latter spelling)—was the eldest of three sisters, later joined by Margery and Patricia.

The Kinney family lived across Chicago’s south side, surrounded by a close-knit Irish Catholic extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles. Like her father, Mary possessed a remarkable artistic talent, which she expressed in various ways throughout her life. She took particular pride in her work as a window dresser at Gately's People's Store, where her displays captured admiration and acclaim. Her creativity also extended to music; Mary was a talented musician and percussionist who smiled when recalling the opportunities to sit in with popular and famous bands on Rush Street. She was also an accomplished seamstress, making her own clothes when she was younger and later sharing her talent through lovingly crafted gifts for her family.

While Mary was never fond of telling stories about herself, her late teens and twenties also included studying radiology in college, relocating to Las Vegas with a dear friend, and running public relations for Saint Francis Hospital of Blue Island, where she designed everything from advertisements to parade floats.
Mary met and fell in love with Italian boy named Michael Labriola. Despite the sizeable differences in food, family, and culture, they built a life together, sharing nearly 52 years of marriage until Michael’s passing in 2022. Over the years, Mary helped build and manage three family businesses with her husband, the last of which sustained their household for 26 years. Together, they created a loving home where she raised and now leaves behind two sons, Michael (Laura) and Christopher (Whitney), as well as three beloved granddaughters, Lilia, Miriam, and Corinne, who brought immeasurable joy to her life and never failed to bring a smile to her face. Her family, friends, and all who knew her will miss her deeply.

Those closest to Mary know that she was an incredible fighter that battled Multiple Sclerosis throughout her life. She helped to increase awareness, to share knowledge, and to build some of the first MS resources on the Internet. Even through her last wishes, she sought to make a difference, donating to the National MS Society Brain Bank. Those wishing to honor her memory could consider making a small donation to the National MS Society ( https://www.nationalmssociety.org/ ).

Memorial Gathering, Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Vandenberg Funeral Home, 17248 S. Harlem Ave. Tinley Park, IL 60477. Interment will be Private. For more information 708-532-1635 or www.vandenbergfuneralhome.com