Mary E. Roy

Mary E. Roy, 78, of South Bend, went home peacefully to be with her Lord on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, as her daughter held her hand.

Mary was born May 27, 1936 in South Bend, a daughter of the late Eugene and Kathryn (Taylor) Annly. She grew up in the South Bend area and this is where she spent most of her life.

In August of 1954, Mary married George A. Roy and he preceded her in death in January of 1997 after 42 years of marriage.

Mary was a waitress for various fine dining restaurants in the area. She was a devoted and dedicated Avon Lady for 43 years and was even selling to her customers from her hospital bed until her body would no longer permit her to do so. At that point, her friends and fellow representatives stepped in to help, as well as her dear friend Jo who volunteered to do everything she could to make sure Mary's customers were satisfied. She was in the President’s Club and Honor Society and was chosen to receive the Spirit of Avon award earlier this year. She loved her customers and was so blessed by the love she received from them and her fellow representatives.

Mary was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka and a former member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in South Bend. In her younger years she competed in roller skating competitions and taught ballroom dancing. She loved her country, her faith and had a special love for St. Therese, Little Flower and her great love for the Eucharist was highlighted when we found that her birth into eternal life was the anniversary of her First Communion as a child. She enjoyed country music and watching figure skating, dancing, old movies and Fox News. She had a special love for animals, especially horses and dogs.

Most of all, Mary’s deep faith and her family were the center of her life and she totally lived her life unselfishly for them. She prayed for each and every one that our Lord would open their hearts totally to Him. Her last hospitalization was filled with the continuous recitation of prayers for everyone else, and at every waking moment even through the night, including for the doctors, nurses, lab technicians, priests, chaplains, visitors and anyone else who entered her room. She was a woman of great humility, courage and strength who always managed to smile and did all that she could to mask the severity of her suffering from others as she did not want anyone to worry about her. When her cancer was initially diagnosed, her response was that she was so thankful that it was her and not her children and said that she was no better than anyone else to carry this cross.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Kathrine (Michael) Nisley, Stephen (Susan) Roy, Carol (Max) Jermaey, Sylvia (Joe) Bost, Sharon (Wayne) Sands, Lewis (Judy) Roy and Ruth (Merle) Delagrange; 62 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; and 18 great-great grandchildren.

Besides her husband, George; she was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Greta; a daughter, Nancy Roy; a son, George Roy, Jr.; and a brother, Eugene Annly, Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated MONDAY, May 11, 2015, at 10:30 am in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka, with Rev. Terry Fisher officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka.

Friends may spend time with Mary’s family SATURDAY, May 9, 2015, from 4 - 8 pm in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, where the Rosary will be prayed at 7 pm. Visitation is also MONDAY from 9 - 10 am in the funeral home.

The family would like to thank Dr. Taber, her doctors, nurses, PCA’s from St. Joseph Regional Medical Center as well as those who cared for mom, even for a short time at Sprenger Healthcare Facility for the care, love and gentleness that was given to her these last few months. There are too many to name personally, but know that you are appreciated. We would also like to thank her many, many friends who gave her so much love and support, their continuous offers to help through this difficult time and to all who prayed for her and for us. They were answered in the way her heavenly Father thought was best and gave us the strength we needed so desperately to walk this journey with her.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church or Riverbend Cancer Services. Assistance with memorials is available at the funeral home.