Dr. Mary John, age 81, of Springfield, IL, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, excellence, faith, and devotion to family and community. Born on June 17, 1945, in Perak, Malaysia, she carried with her throughout life the values of hard work, humility, and service. She was the beloved daughter of the late Sosamma Kurien and the late Dr. K.O. Kurien, and she was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. K.Y. John, and her sister, Jessy (Rev. C.V.) Thomas.

She is lovingly remembered by her sons, Dr. Ashish John and Dr. Anish John and their wives, Dr. Teena John and Dr. Kiran John; her cherished grandchildren, Ashwin John, Simran John, Yohan John, and Inara John; her brother, Thomas (Santha) Kurien; her cousin, Elizabeth Mathew; her nieces and nephews, Prem, Prakash, Susan, Miriam; numerous other close relatives and friends both here and overseas; and her faithful dog, Mickey, a Maltipoo who brought her great comfort and companionship.

She was fondly known as “Girly” by close family and friends, and as Dr. Mary by her professional colleagues. She was “Amma” not just to her children but to so many others that fondly knew her, and “Ammi” to her grandchildren.

She met and married the love of her life Dr. K.Y. John (affectionately known as “Johny”) in 1970. They had 47 years of happiness together before his untimely demise in 2017. They were the perfect complement to each other and were the definition of love and companionship that everyone they met aspired to.

Dr. Mary pursued her medical education with dedication and purpose, earning her medical degree from Calicut Medical College in Kerala, India. She continued her training in Brooklyn, NY, where she completed her OB/GYN residency at St. John’s Hospital.

She continued to work in New York until 1987 when the family moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. There, her commitment to women’s health and her steady leadership led to a distinguished career as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Al Wasl Women’s Hospital in Dubai, where she worked for almost 30 years. She also served as the Director of the Dubai Gynecology and Fertility Center (DGFC). She mentored generations of young physicians and healthcare staff in their professional journeys guiding them to successful careers. Through her work, she touched countless lives with skill, wisdom and a calm, reassuring presence that earned the respect of colleagues and the gratitude of patients and families alike.

Upon retiring in 2016, she and Johny moved to Springfield, IL to be closer to their children and enjoy their retired life together. Unfortunately, that was interrupted by his premature demise. Thankfully, they had chosen to live in Stone Creek, a wonderful retirement community. This is where Mary met her closest friends for the last decade, Linda and Gary Galecki who moved in next door. Countless walks, afternoon teas and hours of conversation defined a cherished friendship that was such a blessing to her.

Girly was known not only for her professional accomplishments, but also for the warmth and grace she brought to every relationship. She loved staying in touch with friends, including her medical school classmates, and she treasured the bonds of family above all else. She absolutely adored her grandchildren and took great joy in their lives, accomplishments, and laughter. She loved listening to Ashwin play the guitar, watching Simran perform on stage and treasured reading and watching cartoons with the youngest grandchildren, Yohan and Inara. She always gave the BEST hugs, they enveloped the receiver with so much Love. Her loving nature was infectious, and she had the unique ability to bring joy and comfort to all those around her.

A devoted Christian, Mary’s strong faith guided her throughout her life. She found comfort and strength in prayer as well as devotional reading, and she lived with a quiet confidence rooted in her belief in God’s promises. Her spiritual life was central to who she was, and it shaped the kindness, patience and generosity she extended to others. Girly and Johny believed in helping others in any way they could. They provided support and guidance to countless family members and friends as they devoted themselves to the mission of helping people achieve success in their lives.

She was also deeply appreciative of life’s simple pleasures, including playing the piano, gardening, and reading all kinds of books.

Those who knew Dr. Mary John will remember a woman of joy, dignity, integrity, intelligence and deep compassion. She leaves behind a lasting example of a life well lived, marked by service to others, devotion to family, and steadfast faith.

Visitation: 3:00 – 6:00 pm, Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield. A Prayer Service and Eulogies will begin at 5:15 pm.

Funeral Service: 2:30 pm, Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Central Baptist Church. A burial will follow at Old Salem Cemetery. ***Please RSVP on Dr. Mary's obituary page on StaabFamily.com by scrolling towards the bottom and finding the Funeral Service window and clicking on the RSVP link.***

Memorial Contributions may be made to: Springfield Memorial Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.

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