Obituaries
Obituary: Mary Ellen Tea (nee Cherveny)
Laraway Schools cafeteria manager of 25 years passes away at 89.
Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory.
Mary Ellen Tea
(nee Cherveny)
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Mary Ellen Tea, passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Sunny Hill Nursing Home in Joliet, IL. Mary Ellen was born in Streator, IL on November 19, 1936, and was a Joliet area resident since 1957, retiring to Shorewood in 2005.A graduate of Streator Township High School with the Class of 1954, she retired from Laraway Schools after 25 years of service as cafeteria manager.
Mary Ellen is survived by her two sons, Richard D. (Vicki) Tea and James A. (Robyn) Tea; one daughter, Diane (Chris) Fosnaugh; six grandchildren, Lindsay Middleton, Kristin (Ralph Gallup) Williford, Corey Tea, Brandi (Ron) Miller, Justin Tea, and Chad (Marci) Fosnaugh; nine great-grandchildren, Kaylin and Logan Middleton, Zachary Williford, Ariella Ashley, Brooke and Ashlyn Miller, Charlotte McGuan-Tea, Colton Fosnaugh, and Adalyn Tenns; and one brother, George "Duke" (the late Darlene) Cherveny. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
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She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Henry; her parents, John L. and Ellen (nee Wright) Cherveny; one brother, John Cherveny; and a grandson, Brandon Nicholas Fosnaugh.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Sixth Avenue Care Team at Sunny Hill for the care they showed to Mary Ellen as well as to the family.
Visitation for Mary Ellen Tea will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, IL, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and again on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Funeral Service at 10:00 a.m.Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the Friends of Sunny Hill, 421 Doris Ave., Joliet, IL, 60433 or to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.
For more information please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.
