Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

THIRION

Devlin

Fogle-Farr

Harrington

Mathews

Vavul

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE – October 27, 2004

Mary L. Thirion

April 17, 1915 – October 24, 2004

Mary Luella Thirion, 89, of St. Paul’s Retirement Community, South Bend, passed away on Sunday, October 24, 2004.

Mary was born on April 17, 1915, in Indianapolis IN, to the late Stephen W. and Carrie (Devlin) Vavul.  On August 12, 1933, as Mary Luella Vavul, she married Gustave J. Thirion, who preceded her in death on December 7, 1979.  Along with her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by a special son, Anthony J. Thirion on November 1999; two brothers, Leo and Thomas Vavul; and by a great granddaughter, Lindsay Fogle-Farr.

She is survived by her three daughters, Carol (Robert) Mathews of South Bend of Shelbyville IN, Mary Harrington of Denver CO and Therese (Richard) Fogle of South Bend; her four sons, William (Barbara) Thirion, Edward (Marge) Thirion and Leo (Alicia) Thirion, all of Sarasota FL, and John (Christine) Thirion of Colorado Springs CO; 11 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Mary was devoted to her children and grandchildren, especially to her son, Tony.  She leaves a lifetime of memories.  She will be greatly missed.

Mrs. Thirion was a parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church, South Bend, a member of the Legion of Mary; St Anne’s Club and was a former parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church where she was also on the Altar Rosary Society.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8pm today, October 27, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, where a parish Rosary will be recited at 4pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am Thursday, October 28, in Christ the King Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery, South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., or to The Reflection Garden, c/o St. Paul’s Retirement Community.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice of St. Joseph County, and the entire staff at ST Paul’s for the care and love she was shown.