Mary Bolinger, 80, Michigan City, IN, passed away Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 6:00 am at Sterling House of Michigan City, Indiana.
Cremation will take place with a memorial service being held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 12, 2014 at Queen of All Saint's Catholic Church, 606 Woodland Ave., Michigan City, Indiana with Rev. Kevin Huber officiating. Burial of ashes will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, Indiana 46360.
She was born April 14, 1934 in Lowell, Indiana to the late Roxanne and Don E. Thomas. She was raised by her beloved aunt, Clara Thomas.
She attended St. Edward's Catholic School in Lowell, and after she and Auntie moved to Michigan City in 1948, she attended Elston High School. She graduated in 1952, and attended Purdue University North Central. Between 1954 and 1968, she worked for Michiana Products, Joy Manufacturing and Dage Industries, and Dage is where she met a handsome engineer named John F. Bolinger.
She and John married on Oct. 14, 1967, and settled in Michigan City, where Mary took on the job of raising three kids. In her writings later in her life, she referred to motherhood as "the greatest achievement life allows," and she brought up her kids with love, humor, and music. She worked a number of jobs while her children were young, and in 1984, she took a job working as an aide for the Chapter One program, tutoring Michigan City students in reading. She worked that job for 11 years, sharing her love of reading and learning with a generation of kids.
Mary was a talented artist, and she took pride in her long membership in the Michigan City Art League, of which she was president several times. Her artwork and illustrations were displayed in various businesses, city buildings, and publications in the Michigan City area, and she participated in many art shows and exhibitions. Most recently, she worked in watercolors and she never stopped learning and practicing.
She belonged to the Pi Epsilon Kappa Catholic Women's Sorority for many years, and after the sorority disbanded she continued to participate with her local sisters, who had all become close friends. Over the years she was a member of the Monday Musicale, Footlight Players, Art League and various other musical and artistic organizations.
Mary lived with honesty and integrity, and she accepted the end of her life with courage and grace. To her kids and grandkids, she was an example of dignity and she kept her appreciation of beauty, absurdity and a good wicked joke right up to her last day.
She is survived by her children, Janet (William) Weyandt of Sheboygan, WI., John (Hiroe) Bolinger of Glen Ellyn, IL., and Christine (Lee) Harshbarger of Evansville., IN; three grandsons, Alexander Ortegon of Sheboygan, WI and Jake and Sam Harshbarger of Evansville, IN; one sister, Bonnie Brownell, of California; one cousin, Autumn Ludwig of Crown Point, IN; two nieces, Kate Bolinger of Hoffman Estates, IL., and Grace Burrows of Grand Rapids, MI.; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Bolinger.
Contributions may be made to Southern Care Hospice 310 W. McKinley, Suite 340 Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Michigan City Art League, Inc. P.O. Box 9720 Michigan City, IN 46360.
Cremation will take place with a memorial service being held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 12, 2014 at Queen of All Saint's Catholic Church, 606 Woodland Ave., Michigan City, Indiana with Rev. Kevin Huber officiating. Burial of ashes will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, Indiana 46360.
She was born April 14, 1934 in Lowell, Indiana to the late Roxanne and Don E. Thomas. She was raised by her beloved aunt, Clara Thomas.
She attended St. Edward's Catholic School in Lowell, and after she and Auntie moved to Michigan City in 1948, she attended Elston High School. She graduated in 1952, and attended Purdue University North Central. Between 1954 and 1968, she worked for Michiana Products, Joy Manufacturing and Dage Industries, and Dage is where she met a handsome engineer named John F. Bolinger.
She and John married on Oct. 14, 1967, and settled in Michigan City, where Mary took on the job of raising three kids. In her writings later in her life, she referred to motherhood as "the greatest achievement life allows," and she brought up her kids with love, humor, and music. She worked a number of jobs while her children were young, and in 1984, she took a job working as an aide for the Chapter One program, tutoring Michigan City students in reading. She worked that job for 11 years, sharing her love of reading and learning with a generation of kids.
Mary was a talented artist, and she took pride in her long membership in the Michigan City Art League, of which she was president several times. Her artwork and illustrations were displayed in various businesses, city buildings, and publications in the Michigan City area, and she participated in many art shows and exhibitions. Most recently, she worked in watercolors and she never stopped learning and practicing.
She belonged to the Pi Epsilon Kappa Catholic Women's Sorority for many years, and after the sorority disbanded she continued to participate with her local sisters, who had all become close friends. Over the years she was a member of the Monday Musicale, Footlight Players, Art League and various other musical and artistic organizations.
Mary lived with honesty and integrity, and she accepted the end of her life with courage and grace. To her kids and grandkids, she was an example of dignity and she kept her appreciation of beauty, absurdity and a good wicked joke right up to her last day.
She is survived by her children, Janet (William) Weyandt of Sheboygan, WI., John (Hiroe) Bolinger of Glen Ellyn, IL., and Christine (Lee) Harshbarger of Evansville., IN; three grandsons, Alexander Ortegon of Sheboygan, WI and Jake and Sam Harshbarger of Evansville, IN; one sister, Bonnie Brownell, of California; one cousin, Autumn Ludwig of Crown Point, IN; two nieces, Kate Bolinger of Hoffman Estates, IL., and Grace Burrows of Grand Rapids, MI.; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Bolinger.
Contributions may be made to Southern Care Hospice 310 W. McKinley, Suite 340 Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Michigan City Art League, Inc. P.O. Box 9720 Michigan City, IN 46360.
Mary Bolinger, 80, Michigan City, IN, passed away Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 6:00 am at Sterling House of Michigan City, Indiana.
Cremation will take place with a memorial service being held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 12, 2014 at Queen of All Saint's Catholic Church, 606 Woodland Ave., Michigan City, Indiana with Rev. Kevin Huber officiating. Burial of ashes will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, Indiana 46360.
She was born April 14, 1934 in Lowell, Indiana to the late Roxanne and Don E. Thomas. She was raised by her beloved aunt, Clara Thomas.
She attended St. Edward's Catholic School in Lowell, and after she and Auntie moved to Michigan City in 1948, she attended Elston High School. She graduated in 1952, and attended Purdue University North Central. Between 1954 and 1968, she worked for Michiana Products, Joy Manufacturing and Dage Industries, and Dage is where she met a handsome engineer named John F. Bolinger.
She and John married on Oct. 14, 1967, and settled in Michigan City, where Mary took on the job of raising three kids. In her writings later in her life, she referred to motherhood as "the greatest achievement life allows," and she brought up her kids with love, humor, and music. She worked a number of jobs while her children were young, and in 1984, she took a job working as an aide for the Chapter One program, tutoring Michigan City students in reading. She worked that job for 11 years, sharing her love of reading and learning with a generation of kids.
Mary was a talented artist, and she took pride in her long membership in the Michigan City Art League, of which she was president several times. Her artwork and illustrations were displayed in various businesses, city buildings, and publications in the Michigan City area, and she participated in many art shows and exhibitions. Most recently, she worked in watercolors and she never stopped learning and practicing.
She belonged to the Pi Epsilon Kappa Catholic Women's Sorority for many years, and after the sorority disbanded she continued to participate with her local sisters, who had all become close friends. Over the years she was a member of the Monday Musicale, Footlight Players, Art League and various other musical and artistic organizations.
Mary lived with honesty and integrity, and she accepted the end of her life with courage and grace. To her kids and grandkids, she was an example of dignity and she kept her appreciation of beauty, absurdity and a good wicked joke right up to her last day.
She is survived by her children, Janet (William) Weyandt of Sheboygan, WI., John (Hiroe) Bolinger of Glen Ellyn, IL., and Christine (Lee) Harshbarger of Evansville., IN; three grandsons, Alexander Ortegon of Sheboygan, WI and Jake and Sam Harshbarger of Evansville, IN; one sister, Bonnie Brownell, of California; one cousin, Autumn Ludwig of Crown Point, IN; two nieces, Kate Bolinger of Hoffman Estates, IL., and Grace Burrows of Grand Rapids, MI.; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Bolinger.
Contributions may be made to Southern Care Hospice 310 W. McKinley, Suite 340 Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Michigan City Art League, Inc. P.O. Box 9720 Michigan City, IN 46360.
Cremation will take place with a memorial service being held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 12, 2014 at Queen of All Saint's Catholic Church, 606 Woodland Ave., Michigan City, Indiana with Rev. Kevin Huber officiating. Burial of ashes will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, Indiana 46360.
She was born April 14, 1934 in Lowell, Indiana to the late Roxanne and Don E. Thomas. She was raised by her beloved aunt, Clara Thomas.
She attended St. Edward's Catholic School in Lowell, and after she and Auntie moved to Michigan City in 1948, she attended Elston High School. She graduated in 1952, and attended Purdue University North Central. Between 1954 and 1968, she worked for Michiana Products, Joy Manufacturing and Dage Industries, and Dage is where she met a handsome engineer named John F. Bolinger.
She and John married on Oct. 14, 1967, and settled in Michigan City, where Mary took on the job of raising three kids. In her writings later in her life, she referred to motherhood as "the greatest achievement life allows," and she brought up her kids with love, humor, and music. She worked a number of jobs while her children were young, and in 1984, she took a job working as an aide for the Chapter One program, tutoring Michigan City students in reading. She worked that job for 11 years, sharing her love of reading and learning with a generation of kids.
Mary was a talented artist, and she took pride in her long membership in the Michigan City Art League, of which she was president several times. Her artwork and illustrations were displayed in various businesses, city buildings, and publications in the Michigan City area, and she participated in many art shows and exhibitions. Most recently, she worked in watercolors and she never stopped learning and practicing.
She belonged to the Pi Epsilon Kappa Catholic Women's Sorority for many years, and after the sorority disbanded she continued to participate with her local sisters, who had all become close friends. Over the years she was a member of the Monday Musicale, Footlight Players, Art League and various other musical and artistic organizations.
Mary lived with honesty and integrity, and she accepted the end of her life with courage and grace. To her kids and grandkids, she was an example of dignity and she kept her appreciation of beauty, absurdity and a good wicked joke right up to her last day.
She is survived by her children, Janet (William) Weyandt of Sheboygan, WI., John (Hiroe) Bolinger of Glen Ellyn, IL., and Christine (Lee) Harshbarger of Evansville., IN; three grandsons, Alexander Ortegon of Sheboygan, WI and Jake and Sam Harshbarger of Evansville, IN; one sister, Bonnie Brownell, of California; one cousin, Autumn Ludwig of Crown Point, IN; two nieces, Kate Bolinger of Hoffman Estates, IL., and Grace Burrows of Grand Rapids, MI.; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Bolinger.
Contributions may be made to Southern Care Hospice 310 W. McKinley, Suite 340 Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Michigan City Art League, Inc. P.O. Box 9720 Michigan City, IN 46360.
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