Wendy M Marks

Wendy M. Marks, a longtime resident of Sterling, Illinois, passed away on December 22, 2025, after a short but courageous battle with a glioblastoma brain tumor.

 Wendy, known in Hebrew as Shoshana Ruth bat Elena, was born in Montreal, Canada, to Walter and Helen Leckman on October 4, 1947. Though never giving up her Canadian citizenship, which she was fiercely proud of, she immigrated to the United States in 1970, after graduating from the prestigious McGill University with highest honors. She shortly thereafter met the love of her life, Sheldon, in a YMCA elevator in Peoria, Illinois, leading to 51 years of marriage.

 A dietician and homemaker, Wendy was very active within her community, including volunteering within the Sterling schools, the Temple Sholom sisterhood, and serving on the Sterling Public Library Board for 25 years. A passionate advocate for reading, early childhood education, and public libraries, the day before she passed the Sterling Library honored Wendy by naming its summer reading program after her.

 Wendy loved the Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, gardening, rescue dogs, cheering at youth baseball and softball games, and supporting liberal political causes. Mostly she cherished being a mother to her three children and beloved “Gamma” to her seven grandchildren. Never a day went by when Wendy did not put kindness and caring into the universe, always thinking of others first.

 She is survived by her husband, Sheldon, children, Dr. Natalie (Tod Schneiderman), Alex (Erica) Marks, and Barry (Lauren) Marks, and grandchildren Ella, Sophia, Ben, Evan, Maddie, Ace, and Sydney.

 The family is having a private, family only graveside ceremony at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling. Shiva details to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sterling Public Library, 102 W 3rd St, Sterling, Illinois 61081, attn: Wendy Marks Summer Reading Program, which will annually support over 250 area children reading.