Mary Porcaro, 61, of Northbrook, was remembered by the community on March 19 with sunflowers, rainbows, butterflies and more.
Porcaro, a volunteer, former teacher, school bus driver, colleague, parent and friend, died on late March 2 on Interstate 294 northbound near Sanders Road.
Illinois State Police said Porcaro was struck by a car and declared deceased at the scene.
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Police indicate the driver of the vehicle that struck Porcaro remained on the scene and a statement was obtained by authorities.
No charges have been filed. Illinois State Police say the investigation is active and continues.
On a Sunday evening, Greenbriar School in Northbrook hosted a two-hour Path of Kindness to acknowledge Porcaro’s contributions. More than 500 people attended, including Porcaro’s family.
Some arrived when the Path of Kindness opened at 6 p.m. Others preferred coming after sunset when the path was aglow with approximately 500 luminaria. The outdoor path took approximately 15 minutes to experience. People wore coats in clear 35 degree evening weather.
According to Northbrook School District 28, Mary Porcaro joined District 28 in 2008 and worked first as a teaching assistant and then as a kindergarten teacher at Meadowbrook and Greenbriar schools.
She retired in 2021 but substitute taught at Greenbriar School, also driving a school bus for District 30 Wescott School.
Porcaro’s Facebook profile is filled with tributes. Reflection continued on Sunday as people stopped at five stations along the path.
Kathleen Brenner of Northbrook had known Mary Porcaro since the 1980s and was among the first to walk the Path of Kindness (which has a hashtag, #PathofKindnessNorthbrook).
“When she smiled, you could feel her love, you could feel her just, genuine kindness,” Brenner said about Mary Porcaro.
“She was so amazing, just an amazing person, in and out,” Brenner said.
“Mary was the best.”
Collaborating on the Path of Kindness were Lori Green of Northbrook, co-president of the Greenbriar PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) and Kelly Melzer of Des Plaines, speech pathologist at Greenbriar School, co leader/head of the school’s faculty social committee.
Greenbriar School has a landscaped path on the east side of the property. Green agreed that no one thought the permanent path would someday be used for an event to celebrate someone’s memory.
“When we were trying to figure out a way to honor Mary, we really wanted to focus on kindness,” Green said.
Green said the #PathofKindnessNorthbrook focused, “on kindness the way that Mary presented herself in the community,” with a goal to create, “a couple of stops along the way that would be meaningful and impactful to help the kids focus on kindness while also honoring who Mary was.
“We wanted to give the opportunity to the community as a whole to come together and celebrate the essence of who Mary was,” Green said.
Porcaro was often in the background of celebrations for others. In 2014, she attended an outdoor parade route party to thank departing Greenbriar School crossing guards.
Porcaro shared handmade chocolate chip cookies. Recipe cards were distributed at the Path of Kindness. In school, Greenbriar students made a butterfly artwork installation in Mary Porcaro’s memory.
“She always delivered plates of cookies which was always welcome,” Melzer said, adding that, “we see how much the kids felt so loved by her.
“When you talked to her (Mary Porcaro), you were the most important person in the world.
“You knew that she was always there and cared and wanted to make sure that you were OK,” Melzer said.
Ginny Hiltz of Northbrook, Greenbriar School principal, had known Mary Porcaro for seven years after Hiltz came to Greenbriar, becoming a colleague.
“The thing that rings true with everyone who knew Mary was that she didn’t ever want any attention or any credit for anything,” Hiltz said.
“She was very, ‘No, no, no, it was no big deal, it’s not me,’ so we didn’t want to do anything that was sad,” Hiltz said.
“We didn’t want to do anything that made people feel sad or sorrowful,” Hiltz said. “And so it really was tricky to find a way to honor her, let people come together in her memory.”
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On Sunday night, hugs were seen and so were tears dabbed from eyes. There were also smiles as people remembered Mary Porcaro as stories and memories were shared.
“Literally, I think of her smile,” said Porcaro’s neighbor Paula Joyce. “And I think of the fact that she would never want to take the compliment.
“She always wanted to make someone feel good, always had something positive to say and made everybody feel wonderful,” Joyce said.
Erin McAnally of Northbrook, a District 28 employee, and daughter Corinne, 10, a fourth-grader, walked the path.
“Everybody knew Mrs. Porcaro,” Corinne’s mother said. “She was so kind.”
Mary Porcaro had no favorite color so she chose the rainbow. Corinne said she would like to think about Mary Porcaro when rainbows appear.
“I like the rainbow,” Corinne said softly.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.