Submitted by: Dan Rich
Mary A. Samys
Jan. 20, 1909 - May 13, 2001
Mary A. (Jankovits) Samys, 92, was born to Joseph and Ethel Jankovits on Jan. 20, 1909, in South Bend, Ind. Mary died Sunday, May 13, in the Healthwin Specialized Care Facility.
She was preceded in death by both her parents; two brothers, John and Joseph; a son, John Wesley Van Lue III; and three grandchildren, Randy Van Lue, Richard "Ricky" Van Lue and Peggy Ann Van Lue. Mary married John Wesley Van Lue II in 1926. After their divorce she married Titus Samys in 1949. Both John and Titus are deceased.
Mary is survived by her sons, Richard (Connie) Van Lue of South Bend, Thomas Van Lue of Twin Lakes, Mich., and Donald Van Lue of Tupman, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Peggy (Paul) Teeter of Sacramento, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; and by four sisters, Irene Borsody, Ethel Koczan and Kathryn Jaskowiak, all of South Bend, and Lisa Brodie of Los Angeles, Calif.
Mary was a fantastic seamstress; any project she attempted was done with great care. Raised in South Bend, she left with her husband Titus for California in 1965 to settle in San Diego for 25 years. During one of their annual visits to South Bend they attended the Ethnic Festival and were so impressed that when they returned to San Diego they established the first Balboa Park Ethnic Food Fair, which is held on Memorial Day of each year. They were also very active in the city's International House of Pacific Relations (a social club comprised of many active nationality clubs).
There will be no visitation. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in Christ the King Catholic Church, where she was a charter member of the Altar and Rosary Society.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ the King Catholic Church Building Fund.