For generations of residents, Muriel Benz was a familiar and steady presence in Palos Park, a woman whose quiet leadership, tireless volunteerism and genuine care for others helped shape the village she called home for more than five decades.
Benz, who dedicated much of her long life to the Palos Park Woman’s Club and other civic efforts, died peacefully at her home at age 102. Her life spanned more than a century of change, yet her values of service, integrity and community remained constant.
Born Dec. 10, 1923, in Bloomingdale, Indiana, to Vawnie McArty and James C. Thomas, Benz was raised along Route 41 at “Shady Grove,” her family’s filling station, restaurant and tourist cabins. She was the youngest of three sisters and grew up learning the rhythms of hard work, hospitality and resourcefulness that would define her adult life.
She met her future husband, Charles W. Benz, as a schoolgirl after he jumped a grade into her classroom. Childhood notes, valentines and autograph books captured a romance that would last a lifetime. The two married in 1944 and shared 77 years together before Charles died in 2021 at age 97. They were widely known as devoted partners throughout their marriage.
After a brief time in Chicago, the couple settled in Lemont, where they raised their daughters. Charles taught electrical engineering at the Fournier Institute of Technology, while Muriel balanced motherhood with a professional career as an executive secretary at Argonne National Laboratory, drawing on her education from Terre Haute Commercial College.
In the 1970s, the couple built their home in Palos Park, where Muriel’s civic involvement flourished. She became a cornerstone of the Palos Park Woman’s Club, serving in every office over the years and remaining active for decades. As a longtime member of Garden Guild I and II, she devoted 45 years to beautification efforts and environmental stewardship.
Benz also managed the Palos Park Farmers Market for many years, helped secure advertising for community events such as the Taste of Palos, sold tickets alongside her husband and volunteered for countless initiatives. From Arbor Day tree plantings and village cleanups to parades, scholarships and fundraising efforts, her work supported nearly every major community project. She was also a strong supporter of the Palos Park Police and Fire departments.
Her service was recognized at the local and state levels. In 2000, she was honored as an Illinois Citizen of the Year and received additional community recognitions in 2014 and 2023.
Beyond her volunteer work, Benz was known for her elegance and warmth. She took pride in her home and appearance and delighted in hosting family, friends and neighbors, often preparing gourmet meals and elaborate tablescapes. Holidays routinely included an extra place at the table for anyone who might otherwise be alone.
Shaped by her early work on a World War II rationing board, Benz was notably frugal and creative, a skilled seamstress who wasted nothing and excelled at recycling and repurposing. She read the newspaper daily, voted in every election until 2024 and enjoyed Scrabble, Euchre, crossword puzzles and foraging for the season’s first morel mushrooms.
Benz is survived by her daughters, Lynn Diana Benz and Jill Angela Benz; nieces Sharon McCoy-Swartz of Muncie, Indiana, and Nancy Goodman Coulter of Nashville, Indiana; nephew Gregg Goodman of Indianapolis; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Visitation will be held Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, from noon until the time of service at 4 p.m. at Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st St., Orland Park. Interment will be private.