Obituary: Shelley Forbess Marek

Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory​.

Shelley Forbess Marek

Age 79, of Shorewood, and formerly of Kankakee, Illinois, passed away Monday morning, September 28, 2026.

Shelley touched the lives of everyone who knew her with her boundless love. She was a nurturer, a giver, a friend, a leader, and an inspiration to all.

Shelley was born October 5, 1946, in Austin, Texas, to the late Commander Ordis and Sonya Forbess. As a proud Navy brat, Shelley lived many places throughout her childhood, allowing her to experience life all over the country and build lasting friendships. She earned her Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and then lived in Washington D.C. before settling in the Kankakee area to grow her family.

Shelley worked for years at Busse and Rieck in Kankakee, helping people select the perfect flowers and gifts for every special occasion. There was no such thing as too many flowers for Shelley – she took joy in every plant and bloom, and she could turn any room into a garden. She later earned her Master’s in Education from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais and afterwards taught at Maternity BVM School.

In 2003, Shelley moved to Shorewood where she taught Kindergarten at Troy Shorewood Elementary School. Over the years, Shelley devoted herself to her students, making each child feel valued and special. She loved nothing more than helping her little learners grow and flourish. Her greatest joy was sharing her kindness with others, whether it was in the classroom, volunteering with the Junior League, or caring for her grandchildren and anyone else who needed a family.

Shelley leaves behind her beloved children, James (Julie) Marek, Liz Marek (Andrew Kilbride), Jordan (Sergio) Campuzano, and Lacey Marek (Ryan) Cole. She was the endlessly proud grandmother of Jack, Max, and Kate; Finnegan, Ailish, and Maeve; Manny and Viviana; Della and Vera. Shelley is also survived by her devoted partner of 27 years, Wayne Thomas and remembered by her former husband, Denny Marek. She is survived by one brother, John Forbess (Elayne Garber) and two nieces, Lindsy Forbess and Chelsey Smith.

A Memorial Gathering for Shelley will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. until her Celebration of Life beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Road (at Essington Road) in Joliet.

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 a condolence.

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