Mary Riess, 79, secretary to former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Seymour Simon, died of renal failure Wednesday in the Manor Care Nursing Home in Westmont. Mrs. Riess lived in River Grove for many years until moving to Elmwood Park in 1960. Early in her career, she spent 20 years as a secretary for Arthur Janura at the Cook County Forest Preserve District. In 1962, she became the secretary for then-Cook County Board President Seymour Simon. She then followed Simon throughout his career. She retired in 1987 to care for her husband, Arthur, but continued handling Simon’s finances as his personal secretary. “She’s been a really essential part of my wife’s life and mine for all these years, and it’s been our good fortune to have her in our family,” Simon said. Survivors include her son, Thomas; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Lewis Funeral Home, 7600 W. Grand Ave., Elmwood Park.
