Mary Beth (MB) Abbene, nee Crooks, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2024.

Mary was born September 11, 1932 in Springfield, Missouri to Clara and Frank Crooks.  Mary grew up in Michigan City, Indiana, and moved to Chicago for her studies in the early 1950s, where she met Sal, making Chicago her home where she and Sal raised  their five children.

After devoting many years to raising her children, Mary found great success in  business, rising to the executive level. Never one to sit still, following her retirement,  she devoted her time to working for an antique dealer, volunteering at Ascension St.  Joseph Hospital, and doting on her grandchildren. Mary was defined by her love of  family and friends, and that love was endless. She maintained a special and cherished  bond with each person she loved.

Mary was the beloved wife of the late Salvatore Abbene; adored mother of James  (Kathy), Michael (Maria), David (Geri), and Elizabeth (William) Coleman and the  late Joseph (Martha); most treasured Grammie of Kate, Ashlea, Kathleen, Emily,

Nicholas, Thomas, Michael, Stephen, Jackson, Lily, Jonathan and Brittany, and Great Grammie of Pryor, Madeline, Gabriel, Thomas, Atticus, and Otávia. Mary’s four  siblings, whom she adored, predeceased her: Kate Bagby, Margaret Pliske, Harry  Crooks, and Donna Dickey.

Services will be held on Friday, February 9 at the First United Methodist Church, 121  E. Seventh Street, Michigan City, IN 46360: Visitation at 10:00 am CT; celebration of  life at 11:00 am CT, followed by interment at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary’s honor may be made to the  Alzheimer’s Association  in support of dementia research, care and support at

( https://www.alz.org/illinois ) or mailed to Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter at  2200 Cabot Drive Suite 460, Lisle, IL  60532.