Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mary A. Staples

Dec. 21, 1930 - Sept. 19, 1996

South Bend Tribune 9/21/1996

Mary A. Staples, 65, of 805 Baker St., #27, Plymouth, Ind., died at 5:07 p.m. Thursday, in St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, following an illness.

Mary was born on Dec. 21, 1930, in Plymouth, to the late Lloyd and Bonnie Yeazel Girten. She was reared in Chicago, Ill., graduating from Calumet High School in 1949, after which she attended the Chicago School of Nursing for two years.

She moved from Chicago to South Bend, Ind., and on Feb. 7, 1953, she married Clinton M. Staples. They returned to Plymouth to live, in 1959. For many years, Mary was a sales clerk in Harvey's Five and Dime Store in Plymouth. For ten years, she was a licensed practical nurse and worked for Miller's Merry Manor, in Plymouth. For eight years, she was a clerical and clinical assistant for Planned Parenthood of Marshall County, and retired in 1995, after ten years, as the office manager of the Women, Infants and Children's Nutritional program (W.I.C.)

Mary is survived by her husband and six children; three daughters and their spouses, Cindy and Brian Claeys, of Plymouth, Pamela and Doug Staples-Toner of Mishawaka, Ind. and Janice and Joe Frucci of South Bend, Ind.; three sons, Gregory Staples of Elkhart, Ind., Paul and his spouse, Judy Staples of Plymouth and Kevin and his spouse, Valarie Staples of South Bend.; 14 grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and four brothers and their spouses, Tom and Shirley Girten of Plymouth, Gene and Rose Girten and Larry and Arlene Girten of Chicago, Ill., and Joe and Carol Girten of Schererville, Ind.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, in Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, in Trinity United Methodist Church, 425 S. Michigan St., Plymouth, where friends may call one hour prior to the services. Rev. Maurice Grindle, pastor of the church, will officiate. Burial will be in New Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth. Mrs. Staples was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Marshall County.