Baran, Mariana (Died)

Mariana Baran, age 53, of Highland Park, IL, passed away peacefully in Maine on May 19. Her ashes were scattered at Pemaquid Point as she wished. She is survived by her parents Nancy Baran (nee Harris), and John Baran of Winnetka, IL, sister Cecily and brother-in-law, Richard Geller and nieces Juliette and Genevieve Geller, all of Madison CT. She is also survived by her uncle Joseph Baran, aunt Jan Baran of Napervile, and aunt and uncle, Cynthia and Earl Ross of Ft. Myers FL. Mariana graduated from New Trier East High School as an IL State Scholar. She received AA degrees in liberal arts and paralegal studies at Oakton Community College and Fisher College in Boston, respectively. She obtained her BA in Philosophy under the tutelage of Father Leo Sweeney, a learned author and professor of philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. Mariana worked at the Robbins and Glencoe Libraries in Arlington, MA and Glencoe, IL, respectively. She will always be remembered for her brilliance, courage, perseverance and particularly the equanimity she displayed when challenged by her mental illness and then breast cancer. Her life was also defined by her enthusiasm and deep love of music and art, which was evident to all her family and friends. A memorial service for Mariana will be held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Highland Park, IL at 10 am on Thursday, June 9. Donations in lieu of flowers in her memory should be given to the Josselyn Center at 405 Central Avenue, Northfield, IL or to the New Foundation Center, 444 Frontage Road, Northfield, IL 60093.