Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center is handling the arrangements for Mary Ellen McCain, 84, of LaPorte, who passed away on Monday, September 25, 2017, at Brentwood Assisted Living Center.
Mary Ellen was born April 24, 1933, in LaPorte to Ralph and Lois (Johnson) Conry.
Mary Ellen graduated from LaPorte High School in 1951. She then acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in secondary education from Earlham College in 1955 and a Master’s Degree in guidance and counseling in 1965 from the University of Notre Dame. She taught at Stillwell High School and was a teacher and counselor at Boston and Kesling middle schools. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, LaPorte, where she served on the Board of Trustees, Building Committee, Worship Committee and Social Committee, and also sang in the Chancel Choir and played the hand bells. Mary Ellen She was a member of AAUW and the Ruth Andrew Coffeen Poetry Club; past president of the LaPorte Service League, where she acted in 25 plays; and served on the LaPorte Hospital Board of Directors and the LaPorte Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, including as Chairperson and Life Member. She was past president of the Epworth Forest Choir School Board of Directors and Friends of the Symphony, and a founder of Holiday at the POPS. She sang with Sounds of Hope in Europe for two years and traveled for one year with the bell choir to Europe.
On August 28, 1955, at First United Methodist Church in LaPorte, she married David McCain, who preceded her in death on April 19, 2016.
Her parents also preceded her in death.
Surviving are her beloved children, Kathleen McCain of Topanga, CA, Deborah (Keith) Forfia of Akron, OH, and Susan McCain of Hermosa Beach, CA; three grandchildren, Mary, Michael and Steven (Kasey) Forfia; one great-grandson, Tucker Forfia; David’s siblings, Malinda (Janice Webster) McCain of Chelsea, MI, John (Gail) McCain of Perrysburg, OH, and Tom (Mindy) McCain of Indianapolis; and beloved nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 1, at First United Methodist Church, LaPorte. Cubs attire is welcome. A time of visitation will be held Saturday, September 30, at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., and on Sunday at the church one hour prior to the service. A private family graveside service will take place at Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to First United Methodist Church, 1229 Michigan Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350; Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte, 323 Pine Lake Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350; or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.