April
4, 1957 - Sept. 19, 2009GRANGER - Loeser, Mary R. 52, ,of Granger, IN, passed away at 4:05 a.m. Saturday in her home from pancreatic cancer which was diagnosed in November 2008. Surviving her are her husband, Charles Loeser, an attorney, and four children: Daniel Loeser, 23, who graduated from the University of Chicago in June and will attend Columbia Law School, New York; Samantha, 21, a senior in pre-med studies at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville; Kathryn, 20, a sophomore at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville; and Anna, 16, a sophomore at Marian High School, Mishawaka. Mary was born on April 4, 1957, in Decatur, IN, to the late Harold and Clarice () She attended Belmont High School in Decatur and in 1979 graduated from Manchester College, North Liberty, Indiana. She had lived in Germany for two years as a student and lived for a year in Fargo, North Dakota, while in a master's degree program in German literature at the University of North Dakota. She met her husband Charles, formerly of Fort Wayne, in 1983. They were married November 24, 1984, in Fort Wayne, and lived in South Bend/Mishawaka for the 25 years of their marriage. Mary taught German for three years at Leo High School in Fort Wayne prior to her marriage. She worked at Standard Federal Bank in South Bend after first moving to the area, and then stopped working outside the home after her first child was born. When her children were older, she began teaching music at The Montessori Academy in Mishawaka, which her children attended, and for a time was the admissions director for the school. She began giving piano lessons in her home and continued doing so until her diagnosis with cancer last November. Until her diagnosis, Mary was a member of the Board of Directors of Good Shepherd Montessori School and was the recording secretary for the South Bend Symphony Orchestra League. Mary will be missed as a wonderful wife, mother, teacher and friend. She was loving, witty, loyal and kind. She had a knack for making students enjoy her teaching. During her years as a German teacher, the number of students taking German more than doubled. She had over 30 piano students, some for many years. She enjoyed welcoming children into her home, encouraging them in reaching their potential, and celebrating with the children and their parents at her semi-annual recitals. She had the gift of kindness. She had insight into people. She took care not to hurt anyone's feelings under any circumstances. Mary valued education and always encouraged her children to use their utmost efforts in their work. She taught them to value themselves for their commitment to learning and doing their best. Her children's success is a measure of the values she taught them. Her family wishes to express thanks for the many kindnesses received during the months of Mary's illness, and to ask for public support for research for a treatment for pancreatic cancer, the most deadly form of cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46635. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Mary R. Loeser may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Network National Headquarters, 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245; or to the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, 127 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601.