Mary Czyzyk, 71, of Philadelphia, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2026, surrounded by her family.
Her life was marked by a steady kind of courage, the kind that showed up in work, in motherhood, and in the way she kept finding purpose even as multiple sclerosis changed what daily life required of her.
Born in Philadelphia on September 5, 1954, Mary was the daughter of Antonious and Anna Boules. She was raised in Camden, where her older brothers, Michael and John, helped protect and support her through a difficult childhood. Mary carried those early struggles without allowing them to define the course of her life. Through determination and hard work, she became the first in her family to graduate from college, earning her degree from La Salle University in 1976.
That same year, she married, and in 1979 settled in Tabernacle, New Jersey. She became a mother to two sons, Stanley and Michael, born in 1980 and 1981. Her family remembers her as a devoted mother who wanted her children to grow up with stability, care, and opportunity. She stayed active in the community through the PTA and other volunteer efforts.
Mary also built a professional life as a bookkeeper and later became a certified tax preparer. She understood the value of financial knowledge in everyday life and shared that understanding with her children, relatives, and friends.
In 1987, Mary was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at a time when treatment options were limited. She kept the diagnosis from her children for more than 10 years, not out of denial, but because she wanted them to have as normal a childhood as possible. It was one of the quiet sacrifices that shaped her life as a mother.
In 2009, Mary entered long-term care at Inglis House in Philadelphia. There, she did not withdraw from the world around her. She became part of the Inglis community, serving on the resident council and participating in P.E.E.R. advocacy groups. Even as her mobility declined, she helped raise money, support, and awareness for other residents. Her family remembers a woman who adapted, kept pushing, and held onto a spirit for life that remained visible to those around her.
Mary is survived by her sons, Michael and Stanley; her daughters-in-law, Inessa and Monica; her grandchildren, Brian, Aryna, Bella, and Braydon; her brothers, Michael and John; and many other family members and friends.
Services will be held Thursday, April 30, 2026, at St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church, 615 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. A viewing will take place from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service in the Greek Orthodox tradition from 11 a.m. to noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Inglis House.