Submitted by Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 2/19/2002

Mary J. Wolfe

Feb. 24, 1927 - Feb. 16, 2002

Mary Joan Wolfe, 74, born Mary Joan Rita Wendell of South Bend, Ind., loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed quietly from this world at 3:57 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Mary Joan was born to Fred W. Wendell and Elvira B. (Lollman) Wendell on Feb. 24, 1927, in Mishawaka, Ind. She graduated from Central High School, class of 1945, and married her high-school sweetheart, Jack Joseph Wolfe on Aug. 14, 1948. Jack preceded her in death on Jan. 16, 2002. Mary was also preceded in death by two brothers, Fred Wendell Jr. and Robert Wendell; and by two sisters, Barbara Mitchell and Doris Huber.

She is survived by one son, Bruce Edward Wolfe of South Bend; one daughter, Susan Marie Wolfe-Walters of Seymour, Ind.; two grandchildren, Brenen and Silvaan Campbell of South Bend; three brothers, Daniel Wendell of Jacksonville, Fla., Jerome F. Wendell of Traverse City, Mich., and James P. Wendell of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; four sisters, Patricia Swanson of South Bend, Shirley Slabaugh of South Bend, Lois Haynes of Dallas, Texas, and Sue Cleaver of Washington Township, N.J., and Audrey Jack of Dallas; and by two sisters-in-law, Shirley Wolfe and Janet Hojara, both of South Bend.

Mary Joan Wolfe attended St. Mary's College and Indiana University, South Bend, earning both a bachelor of education and master's of education degree. She taught grades 2nd and 3rd at Northside Elementary School, Mishawaka, for 17 years, from September 1970 until her retirement in June 1987.

Some of the clubs Mary belonged to were St. Mary's Alumni Association, Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority, and the Indiana Alumni Association Elk's Club. She was a member of St. Anthony dePadua Parish.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. today in the Hickey Funeral Home, 3516 E. Jefferson, 289- 1000, where a Rosary will be said at 3 p.m.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in St. Anthony dePadua Parish, where burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Society of St. Joseph County.