Maria C. Cepeda, 95, of LaPorte, Indiana, passed away Sunday, June 25, 2017.
She was born December 15, 1921, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, to Jose Pilar and Lucia (Orozco) Rodriguez.
Maria retired from the American Rubber Corporation after 23 years of service. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, LaPorte.
On June 15, 1955 in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Maria married Alejandro Cepeda, who preceded her in death on April 23, 2001.
Maria is survived by her daughters, Carmen Watkins of South Bend, Indiana, and Yolanda (Nile) Rose of Huntsville, Texas; son, Alex (Connie) Cepeda of LaPorte; grandchildren, Chad, Kyle and Cassandra Cepeda, Katie (Dr. Steve) Spiritoso, Julianne (Zach) Stangebye, and Angela, Joseph, Grace, and John Watkins; and great-grandchildren, Gwendolyn, Bruce and Jay.
A son-in-law, Bruce R. Watkins, and siblings, Rosalina, Andre, Luca, Lola, Juan, and Ana, all preceded her in death.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 30, at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, LaPorte, where a Parish rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, LaPorte, with Reverend Ian Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte. Family and friends may gather at 9 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
A special note of thanks to Dr. Israr Sidiqi, the entire staff at Kindred, ER staff at Elkhart General Hospital, and Heartland Hospice for their care and love on behalf of Maria.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 201 Bach St., LaPorte, IN 46350; or Heartland Hospice, 230 W. Catalpa Drive, Suite D, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.