Resurrection Mary: Chicago’s Most Famous Hitchhiking Ghost and Where to Find Her
- Desirae-Haunted Traverse
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Along Archer Avenue on Chicago’s southwest side, drivers have reported a strange and recurring encounter for nearly a century: a young woman dressed in white, asking for a ride late at night. She gives little direction, speaks softly if at all, and before the journey ends, she vanishes — sometimes leaving the car door unopened, the seat still warm, or the air suddenly cold.
This is the legend of Resurrection Mary, widely regarded as one of the most famous and well-documented ghost stories in the United States.
The Origins of the Resurrection Mary Legend: Chicago's Most Famous Ghost
The earliest accounts of Resurrection Mary date back to the 1930s and 1940s, with multiple variations of the story emerging over time. In most versions, Mary appears near former dance halls such as O. Henry’s Ballroom or the Willowbrook Ballroom.
Drivers who pick her up describe her as polite but distant. When they approach Resurrection Cemetery, she asks to be let out — and then vanishes completely. In some reports, Mary’s hand leaves the car door handle cold to the touch, while in others, she is seen walking through locked cemetery gates.
Who Might Resurrection Mary Have Been?
Over the years, researchers, historians, and paranormal investigators have attempted to identify the possible real-life woman behind the legend of Resurrection Mary. While no single identity has ever been definitively proven, several theories continue to circulate.
Anna Norkus
One of the most frequently cited possibilities is Anna Norkus, a young woman who died in a hit-and-run accident in 1927 at the age of 21. Norkus was reportedly buried in Resurrection Cemetery and was known to frequent dance halls along Archer Avenue — details that closely mirror the traditional Resurrection Mary narrative.
However, discrepancies exist. Records show Anna was buried in a different cemetery section, and some descriptions of her appearance do not perfectly align with eyewitness accounts. Still, the overlap has kept her name central to the discussion.
Mary Bregovy
Another candidate often mentioned is Mary Bregovy, who died in 1934 following an automobile accident. Some researchers point to similarities between her death circumstances and early Resurrection Mary sightings.
Mary Bregovy's death was tragic, happened in the vacinity, and one true telling that may lead us to conclude that Mary Begovy is the Resurrection Mary spirit, is that one of the first noted reports began in April 1934, only one month after Mary Bregovy's passing.
Not One Spirit But Many
I believe Resurrection Mary may not be one individual at all, but rather the sightings are rather the merging of multiple tragic deaths near Archer Avenue around 1930s. These spirits find themselves connected to the place of their passing along the roadway or burial location-hence why Resurrection Cemetery has so many repeated sightings.
This theory evolved organically, shaped by my research of decades of similar encounters and the emotional imprint of sudden loss associated with Archer Avenue and Resurrection Cemetery.
Why No Identity Has Ever Been Confirmed
Despite decades of research, Resurrection Mary’s true identity remains elusive. Early records were often incomplete, and many reported encounters occurred long before systematic paranormal documentation existed. But the real challenge is that no one can pinpoint exactly when the first encounters of this spirit began because these ghost stories were passed down orally and not put into print at the time of the encounters.
For some investigators, this uncertainty only strengthens the legend. The lack of a confirmed identity allows Resurrection Mary to exist as both a historical mystery and a symbolic figure — representing grief, waiting, and unfinished journeys rather than a single life.
A Legend That Refuses to Settle
Whether Resurrection Mary was Anna Norkus, Mary Bregovy, or someone else entirely, her story persists because it resonates on a human level. She remains a figure caught between movement and stillness — eternally seeking a destination she never reaches.
Why is Resurrection Mary Considered A White Lady Ghost?
Resurrection Mary is often described as a classic White Lady apparition — a feminine spirit dressed in pale clothing, associated with grief, waiting, and unfinished journeys. According to lore, white ladies are spirits that seem to attach to particular locations, manifest in white, and are attached to a tragic passing.
Explore more in depth of White Lady Hauntings with this Haunted Traverse Article:
Eyewitness Accounts and Reported Sightings
Resurrection Mary’s legend is supported by decades of eyewitness accounts, many of which share striking similarities:
Drivers report sudden silence after brief conversation
A noticeable drop in temperature inside the vehicle
The apparition disappearing without opening the door
Sightings clustered late at night or early morning hours
Resurrection Cemetery researched the origins of this specter due to overwhelming reports by witnesses of a female spirit in white manifesting near the cemetery.
Two Famous Resurrection Encounters
The first, Resurrection Cemetery staff once reported a woman matching Mary’s description caught on cemetery grounds, allegedly leaving behind burn-like impressions on iron bars — though explanations remain debated.
Jerry Palus in 1939, went into a very detailed encounter with the apparition at Liberty Grove Hall. Where he spent the night dancing with her, sharing a kiss, and driving her down Archer Avenue before letting her out at Resurrection Cemetery. He said throughout the night she had been ice cold to the touch and when they said their goodbyes she passed right through the gates of the iron bars of the cemetery. The next day, he went to the address given to be told by the woman living there her daughter had been dead for years.
Where Resurrection Mary Is Said to Appear
Those interested in the legend most often associate Resurrection Mary with the following locations:
Archer Avenue — particularly long, dimly lit stretches
Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois
Former dance hall sites along Chicago’s southwest corridor
These locations are frequently included on Chicago ghost tours and paranormal travel itineraries.
Explore more Chicago hauntings with my Haunted Things To Do in Chicago Guide
Why Resurrection Mary’s Story Endures
Resurrection Mary: Chicago’s Most Famous Hitchhiking Ghost and Where to Find Her is unlike many ghost stories built on shock or horror, Resurrection Mary’s legend resonates because of its emotional simplicity. She does not threaten, chase, or frighten — she waits.
Her story reflects themes of youth cut short, longing, and the quiet persistence of memory.
For many, Resurrection Mary represents the idea that some journeys are never completed, and some spirits linger not out of malice, but because they are unfinished.
As for this author, Resurrection Mary continues to linger in my imagination, perhaps because of my own encounters with White Lady spirits over more than three decades of paranormal investigation. Maybe one day she will reveal herself to me, as she has to so many along Archer Avenue. Until then, she remains one of the quiet, resilient spirits that fuel the haunting of Chicago.
Thank you for visiting this article!
Wishing You Safe and Spirited Travels, my Dear Readers. ~Dez
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Chicago is home to a rich paranormal history beyond Resurrection Mary. Travelers interested in exploring haunted locations can find guided ghost tours, historic cemeteries, and walking routes focused on the city’s supernatural past.
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