Stephanie LaVerne “Stevie” Prochut (née Merstorf)Stephanie Laverne “Stevie” Prochut (née Merstorf), of Bolingbrook, Illinois, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on February 24, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, Stevie lived a life filled with love, laughter, stubborn determination, strong coffee, sweet treats, and countless memories that her family will carry forever. 

Stevie met the love of her life, Ronald Prochut, while the two worked at the First National Bank in Chicago in 1970. They married on October 10, 1971, beginning a 54-year marriage built on loyalty, humor, family, and decades of shared adventures. In 1974, Ron and Stevie settled in Bolingbrook, where they built the home and family that became the absolute center of Stevie’s world.

Growing up in Chicago, Stevie perfectly fit the mold of a classic 1950s and 60s “greaser.” She was tough, fearless, stylish, and never one to back down from anyone. Beneath that gritty exterior, however, was a fiercely loyal sister who was deeply protective of her younger brother, Larry.

A hardworking woman throughout her life, Stevie spent many years in the restaurant industry before retiring in 2021. No matter where she worked, she brought a relentless drive and a perfectionist streak that reached its absolute peak when it came to laundry. Socks were folded with military precision. Clothes were meticulously de-fuzzed. Ironing was a sacred art. Stevie didn't just do laundry; she treated it like a professional sport, and she was an Olympic-level athlete.

Family meant everything to Stevie. She and Ronald raised two children, Chris Prochut (Jennifer) and Erica Urba (Tom). She was also an incredibly proud grandmother to her cherished grandchildren: Chase and Ashlyn Prochut, and Mya and Gavin Urba. Her grandchildren quickly learned that Grandma Stevie never let them leave empty-handed. Whether it was candy, flashlights, bottles of Coca-Cola, a robot dog, or some other random, delightful surprise gift she found along the way, Stevie always had a parting gift waiting. She loved making people smile in simple, unexpected ways.

Stevie also loved volunteering at St. Scholastica School in Woodridge, Illinois. She became legendary among the students for her enthusiastic participation in games, most notably her absolute favorite, “Park Your Poop,” a pastime that remains unmatched in school history.

She was caring, loving, highly opinionated, and wonderfully stubborn in all the ways her family came to adore. Stevie famously refused to drink water, insisting instead that human survival required only black coffee, no cream, no sugar, no exceptions. She possessed an aggressive sweet tooth, fueled by Jujubes, Flying Saucer candies, and Hostess chocolate cupcakes. She loved sewing, listening to great music (played just a little louder than necessary when a good song came on), and curling up under a thick blanket because she was perpetually cold.

She also had an intense, lifelong love for penguins, which quietly infiltrated her life in the form of pictures, mugs, decorations, and clothing.

Stevie was her children’s biggest fan on the tennis court, faithfully keeping score from the sidelines. While her personal version of the score rarely aligned with the actual scoreboard, she remained completely confident in her calculations, and no official could ever prove her wrong. Her support didn't extend to all hobbies, though; while Ron loves to fish and Stevie certainly enjoyed eating fish, she had absolutely zero interest in catching them.

She was also an incredibly cautious driver, so cautious, in fact, that she was once passed while driving up a mountain by a Yugo, a legendary family story that her loved ones never let her forget.

Above all else, Stevie loved Jesus and held tightly to her Catholic faith. While her family finds deep comfort in knowing she is now in Heaven, they are also entirely certain she has already cornered God with a very long, very detailed list of questions. Her humor, honesty, and unmistakable personality made her unforgettable to everyone who knew her.

Stevie was preceded in death by her parents, Matthias Merstorf (2001) and Sylvia Merstorf (1995), as well as her sister-in-law, Lorraine “Lori” Merstorf (2014). She is survived by her beloved husband Ronald, her children, her grandchildren, and her brother, Lawrence Merstorf.

Per Stevie’s wishes, there will be no visitation. Her remains will later be interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.

Her family finds peace imagining Stevie exactly where she belongs: wrapped in a warm blanket, holding black coffee in a penguin mug, enjoying a secret stash of Jujubes, and finally getting answers to all of her questions.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home & Crematorium.