During the late morning of Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, at Brentwood Assisted Living Center in LaPorte, Mary Helen Schultz, 101, peacefully entered the eternal house of her Lord. At the hour of her passing her loving daughters, Suzanne Marie (Lee) Howell of LaPorte and Pamela Lee (David) Moore of Winfield, IL, comforted her.
Enjoying a remarkably long life, Mary Helen was born in LaPorte on July 19, 1915, and contributed actively within the LaPorte community. Mary Helen graduated from LaPorte High School in 1932. Her graduation verse in the yearbook stated, “If there were only more such as she!” This was a mantle that she would carry all of her life.
In 1936, Mary Helen married the sole love of her life, Herman William Schultz, who preceded her in death in 1961. He was a prominent, sincerely respected and successful farmer. Together, they operated the Schultz Dairy located on Route 35, south of LaPorte.
Considering her duties on the Schultz farm coupled with her historic religious and civic involvements, Mary Helen remained, above all, an entirely dedicated and faithful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and was affectionately known as “Nana.” Upon her departure from farming, Mary Helen was employed by Chapman & Graf for several decades, where she greeted most customers by their first names.
Mary Helen was a devout Christian, belonging to St. John’s Lutheran Church all her life. She was a charter member of the Walther League Chorus and longtime member of Circle 7 of St. John’s. She volunteered at the Thrift Shop, and participated in 4-H, Farm Bureau, Business Girls and the Historical Society.
During her final 10 years, she was a beloved resident at Brentwood, where she, quite fortunately, associated with friends from all periods of her extraordinary life. She was a pleasant, fun-loving and caring person who rarely complained. Young and old enjoyed her company. She cared for several of her aging relatives, and even her caregivers at Brentwood described her as especially sweet as she found a place in their hearts.
Surviving are her daughters; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte, with Pastor Ronald Brauer officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from noon t 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, LaPorte.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 111 Kingsbury Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.