Michele Marchio Martis

Michele Martis (née Marchio) was born into eternal life on January 14, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her devoted husband of 40 years, Greg Martis; her cherished daughters, Megan (Chris) Meyer and Molly Martis; her precious granddaughters, Emma and Caroline Meyer; her caring mother, Molly Marchio; her dear sister, Tara (Kevin) O’Hea; her mother-in-law, Judith Martis; her brothers-in-law, Jeff (Karen) Martis and Dan (Jackie) Martis; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Tom Marchio; her father-in-law, Dave Martis; her grandparents; and several beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In addition to her family, Michele treasured her many friendships, including those with the North Central College gang, her Notre Dame friends, friends made through her many years at St. Petronille School, Glen Ellyn neighbors, coworkers and spouses through Greg and Michele’s work, the 8:30 a.m. Pure Barre crew, and her dear lifelong friend, Patti Shea Murphy of Malvern, PA, whom Michele met in 1976 through a seventh-grade school pen-pal program. 

Michele attended Joliet East High School and the University of Notre Dame, where she was a member of the Dancing Irish pom squad. She worked as a computer programmer and accountant, but her greatest focus and joy was raising Megan and Molly. Michele was an active member of the St. Petronille community, serving as a room mom and parent organization board member. Her interests included traveling—especially annual family trips to Siesta Key, Florida, and Galena, Illinois—hiking and canoeing with Greg, Notre Dame football games and tailgates, barre class, and Broadway musicals. Her latest and greatest joy in life was spending time with her beloved granddaughters, Emma and Caroline.

Over more than 40 years of marriage, Michele and Greg shared countless experiences. Among them were at least 40 trips to nine different countries while living in England during Greg’s three-year assignment with UOP in Guildford; hosting more than 30 visitors from the United States during that time; an idyllic trip to Hawaii for their 15th wedding anniversary; many memorable vacations to Cape Cod visiting friends; an unforgettable first adventure to Napa Valley enjoying wine, food, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences with dear friends; and their epic 12-day journey to Italy and Greece with the College Gang. More recently, they had a wonderful East Coast trip in September 2024 celebrating a dear friend’s wedding on the Jersey Shore, hiking in the Pocono Mountains, and attending their favorite play in New York, Hamilton, for the third time together (Michele’s fifth). 

Michele had a special devotion to Mary, and The Memorare was her favorite prayer. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, and friend to so many. She will always be remembered as “one of the kindest people you will ever meet” and “someone who changed my life”.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Drs. Kevin Dawravoo, John Hayes, and Riad Salem of Northwestern Medicine; Dr. Joseph Franses of the University of Chicago; Drs. Daniel Boyle, Jacob Kaiser, and James Ward of Central DuPage Hospital; the Palliative Care team at Central DuPage Hospital; the nurses and PCTs on Central DuPage Hospital floor 3B; the nurses and support staff at Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center; and the AccentCare Hospice team.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare Diseases at the University of Notre Dame at this link: Go.nd.edu/martismemorial.

More information can be found at: Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare Diseases

The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed at 11:00am (Go to this link and click on Livestream in upper right hand corner): 

St. Petronille Website