Obituary: Barrington Volunteer, Mary Ellen Henehan, 73

Active Barrington volunteer Mary Ellen Henehan died peacefully on Feb. 6 at the age of 73. 

Henehan was named Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 2009.

"She gave unselfishly of her time and became a stellar volunteer. In 2008-2009, there wasn't one event that she did not volunteer her time," recalled Janet Meyer, president and CEO of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC).

"She and her husband (Robert) became the fabric of the community.They were at every event and she loved to register people. She gave her heart to every one and was the most personable individual I ever met. When she smiled, the room lit up. She will be well remembered with her chamber family," Meyer said.

Mary Ellen was born Oct. 1, 1938, in Detroit, Mich., to Martin and Loretta  Burg, according to the obituary on the Davenport Funeral Home website. She graduated from Mundelein College and Northwestern University, receiving her master's degree in music education. She taught music in junior high school in Harvey and West Chicago, and later taught piano lessons in her home for 25 years.

She also was a church organist at St. Anne's Parish in Barrington for 38 years. Mary Ellen was a past president of the American Association of University Women and the Friends of the Barrington Area Library. She was also a member of the Barrington Women's Club, the St. Anne's Women's Club, and the American Guild of Organists. She was also active in the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, where she was awarded BACC volunteer of the year in 2009. Mary Ellen enjoyed playing tennis and golf with her many friends in Arlington Heights, Palatine and Lake Barrington Shores.


Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Ellen Henehan (nee Burg), 73, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 10, at St. Anne Church, corner of Ela and Franklin Streets, Barrington, where she will lie in state from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, from 3 until 8 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St. (Lake Cook Rd.), Barrington. Burial will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine.