After a nine-year battle with multiple myeloma, Maria Connors (nee DeFotis), age 58, passed away Saturday June 20. A doting mother to Julianne and Natalie, she loved singing jazz music, the perfect cup of coffee, and playing Candy Crush on her iPad while wearing a comfy sweater. Maria lived in the Chicagoland area for her entire life (save a one year visit to Texas for vocal performance grad school). A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Maria was a teacher at St. Pius in Pilsen and Carol Stream School District 93. After 14 years of teaching, she switched careers to work as a sales representative for Standard Register in Schaumburg. With the birth of her daughters, Maria chose to become a full-time stay-at-home mom. Maria thrived as a mother, putting her children first in everything and encouraging a love of music. She was the daughter of the late George and Aphrodite DeFotis; wife of John; sister of Thomas, George (Carey), Irene, Constance DeFotis, Sylvia (George) Gillberg and the late William, Alexis and Nicolatta DeFotis. For a woman who had eaten healthy and exercised her whole life, her cancer diagnosis came as a shock. Throughout this time, she exhibited her strength and determination to be there for her children. Cancer helped her focus on family and friends and she was able to cherish these relationships more deeply. She told her story to encourage doctors, nurses, and patients around the country. Her instant encouragement, contagious laugh, and charismatic personality will be greatly missed