Mary Gardner Spiegler of Des Plaines died at age 93 on June 9, 2024 at Northwest Community Hospital following a year-long bout with cancer and finally a massive stroke. Born in Washington, DC, Mary was the youngest of four children.  At age 16, she worked at Spiegler's Department Store where she met her future husband, Robert "Bob" Spiegler, one of the store's owners. Married at age 20, she joined her husband in Virginia where he was stationed in the U.S. Army, and where she became a valued medical interviewer/typist for the Army. After their service, they returned to Des Plaines where Bob continued to manage the store. In 1955, they built a home by the Des Plaines River and raised two daughters there. After her husband passed, Mary continued to live alone in the home for eight years until 2023 when she sold the house and moved into independent living. She was an accomplished artist, seamstress, golfer and bowler, but rarely boasted about her two hole-in-ones or her Beat the Champ bowling and golf championship wins. A beautiful woman, Mary often did fashion modeling for Spiegler's and Rolling Green Country Club where they were members. She was a wonderful cook and hostess. Most family holidays and many parties (especially pool parties) for her friends and her husband's business colleagues were held in her beautiful home. A longtime member of the First Congregational Church of Des Plaines, Elks Club, and Lions Club, Mary enjoyed volunteering in the community. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and siblings, Evelyn Wolfe (Dick), Willard "Bus" Gardner (Pat) and her identical twin sister, Margaret "Moggie" Anderson (Art). She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Novak (Gary), and Susan Borowski (Jim) and her grandchildren Kristen (Tom) & Craig Borowski (Phuong), and Andrea Novak, and devoted nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Monday June 17, 2024 from 10:00am until the time of service at 10:30am at G.L. Hills Funeral Home, 745 Graceland Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. Entombment to follow at Ridgewood Memorial Park, Des Plaines, Illinois. For more information, please call (847) 699-9003 or visit www.glhillsfuneralhome.com .