In January of 1979, a chicago cab driver stopped to pick up a female passenger at the front gates of Resurrection Cemetry, the final resting place of more than 150,000 souls. But before he could let her in the mysterious woman disappeared. The cab driver had just met Chicago's most famous ghost "Resurrection Mary".
As the story goes, the first person ever to encounter Resurrection Mary was Jerry Palus. The year was 1939. The place a Chicago dance hall where Jerry was a regular. Jerry was captivated by a young blonde woman in a white gown and immediately asked her to dance. He learned little about her, except that her name was Mary and she lived on the south side of town. He danced with the young woman all night. When it was time to leave Jerry offered Mary a ride home. Jerry followed her directions and took her to Archer Road. When Jerry reached Archer Road, he found themselves in front of Resurrection Cemetry and he let Mary out of the car. It was at that moment that that she vanished before his eyes. Jerry persumed he was drunk and thought nothing of it. The next day, wanting to find the mysterious womon, he found the house where the woman said she lived. An elderly woman answered when he knocked and he asked for her daughter. The woman told him that her daughter, Jerry's date, had been dead 5 years. Jerry was flabergasted. The woman from the previous night was a ghost.
Years later a historian learned the ghost was believed to be the restless spirit of young woman named Mary Bregovy. Mary Bregovy had been killed in a tragic accident in 1931, a month before her 21st birthday. She was laid to rest in Resurrection Cemetery in her favourite white gown.
Over the years, Resurrection Mary has been seen many times in the vicinity of Archers Road looking for a lift home. Another infamous sighting of "Resurrection Mary" was made by Clare Rudnick in 1980. Claire spotted Mary while driving along the front of Resurrection Cemetery. She saw on the right hand side of the road, a girl walking. She was extremely bright, like illuminating. She was walking very slowly. She remembers thinking "oh my God it's Resurrection Mary's ghost". She was terrified. Janet Kalai and a friend also claim to have seen Resurrection Marywhen out for an evening drive near Resurrection Cemetery when a young woman stepped in front of the car. "There was no impact, there was no bump to say you know I had hit something. But I know I had hit something, but I know she ran at the car and I hit her" recalled Janet.
Does the ghost of Mary Bregovy really haunt Chicago? Or is Resurrection Mary just an urban myth? In any case should you find youslef driving through the streets of Chicago late one night and happen to spot a pale young woman in a flowing white gown, you might think twice about offering her a ride.
By Niall Cranny
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