This blog is dedicated to Mary G Sykes, a 92 year old woman who has
lost her liberty and justice in the probate court of Cook County. She
is now living in a miserable situation with relatives that never cared
for her until one of those relatives filed papers against Mary alleging
Mary was incompetent. Mary was then ripped from the only home and
neighborhood she had known for decades. Mary’s daughter Gloria Sykes
cared for her lovingly for 10+ years. Gloria has continuously fought a
protracted battle in Probate since July of 2009 and has all her property
taken away (without due process and having never been served with any
Complaint or Summons) and her life has been taken away also, but her
greatest loss she considers to be her mother.
Carolyn, the “guardian”, has isolated Mary from the rest of her
entire family, her own elderly sister rare sees or can call her because
Carolyn controls everything. Mary almost never sees her own daughter
Gloria any longer.
But when Mary was with her other daughter Gloria 10+ years, Gloria
took her mom everywhere with her, Mary walked freely throughout the
neighborhood, at least once per day, and often several times per day.
She was well known at the Norwood Pk Fire Station where everyone loved
seeing her. She was active in the Garden Club–even at 90! Gloria had
frequent parties and gatherings and her mom was always a main part of
those. Gloria made sure her mom had daily phone contact with everyone
and especially her other family members. Mary was never isolated when
with Gloria, and Gloria always bought her the freshest, healthiest
foods. Mary went to restaurants frequently and even several vacation
trips a year with Gloria. She was never neglected or isolated when she
was with Gloria, and best of all, she lived in her home. Mary wanted to
say in court that she wanted to live at her home for the rest of her
life with Gloria caring for her. But the judge refused to listen. Mary
wanted to say in court she wanted a lawyer to represent her so she
could get home and live there, but the Judge would not allow her a
lawyer.
Mary had given her daughter Gloria the most recent Power of Attorney
saying she wanted Gloria to care for her and she wanted to live in her
own home for the rest of her life. The Judge would not allow that.
In the meantime, Carolyn had taken $4,000 from Mary’s bank account,
without her permission and knowledge. Mary went to court and asked for a
protective order that Carolyn not move any of Mary’s assets. The
Probate court never heard that petition. The Probate court did not
inquire into where the $4,000 went. Carolyn said it went into an IRA or
401k, but what would a 90 year old woman do with an IRA or 401k and
besides, she wouldn’t even be eligible! The Probate court appointed
Carolyn as “plenary guardian” with complete powers over Mary without
investigation allegations that Carolyn was secreting away Mary’s assets.
Mary had a safe deposit box with gold coins, items of great
value–probably more than $1 million. Some of it was inherited. The
Guardians ad Litem Farenga and Stern, Illinois licensed attorneys, never
made sure a witness was present when Carolyn gained control of that and
opened it. Mary also had substantial cash in her bedroom which turned
up missing soon as Carolyn was appointed guardian and gained control
over her apartment. Again the GAL’s never made sure when Carolyn
entered the house she was supervised.
The Probate court continues to turn a blind eye to these allegations.
Gloria petitioned for guardianship but was railroaded when the court
asked her to name the names of Mary’s medicines and dosages, and Gloria
had not memorized them. Gloria said she kept them on her cell phone,
but the court said that was not good enough! In the meanwhile, the
court helped Carolyn with a care plan, and further never asked Carolyn
any questions about Mary’s medications. Gloria’s petition was dismissed
on those grounds. Railroaded! Gloria knew far more about her mother’s
medical conditions and history than Carolyn ever knew, but the court
engineered it so that was not determined.
Next, Gloria tried to hire a very experienced attorney to represent
her–Joanne Denison,and the GAL’s fought like crazy to disqualify Ms.
Denison (merely because Ms. Denison notarized one document for Mary)–
and the court threatened Ms. Denison with loss of her license to
practice law (ridiculous) on several occasions. Why did the court and
the GAL’s work so hard to disqualify one attorney to represent Gloira
who wanted to take her mom home and care for her? What possible reason
could there be for all that? Where was the conflict of interest in
that? None, that’s what there was. That is, unless the GAL’s were
trying to cover up a guardian that wanted to steal from and then isolate
and shut up an elderly woman.
Sooo many questions over the Probate court procedure and the actions of the GAL’s.
If you have any sightings of Mary G Sykes or her dog Hannah, please
report them here. Thank you. The first post will be from an attorney
currently working on the case.
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