Submitted by: Dan Rich
Sept. 27, 1906 - May 16, 2008
South Bend Tribune 5/25/2008
SOUTH BEND - Mary Elizabeth Geary, 101, of South Bend,
formerly of Boswell, IN, died Friday May 16 in Holy Cross Care
and Rehabilitation Center in South Bend. She was born September
27, 1906, in Benton County, Indiana to Emory and Maude Foster
She attended Boswell High School, and graduated from DePauw
University in 1928 and Yale School of Nursing in 1931.
In 1935, she married Thomas W. Samuel,
who preceded her in death in February 1960. In December 1975, she
married Chester H. Geary, who died in February 1986. She is
survived by sons, Lyman T. Samuel (Cathy Ganser) of
Mishawaka and Lyndon W. Samuel of Minnetonka, MN; stepson, N.
Hugh (Joyce) Geary of Worthington, OH; eight grandchildren, Scott
(Karen) Samuel of South Bend, Greg Samuel of Ft. Wayne, Chris
(Jan) Samuel of Woodstock, GA, David Samuel, Anthony Samuel and
Jenna Thornbloom, all of California and Chris and Rick Ganser,
both of Mishawaka; two step-grandchildren, Lisa and Mark Geary of
Worthington, OH; and three great-grandsons, Cole of Woodstock,
Bradley of South Bend and Kevin of Ft. Wayne. She was a member of
Boswell United Methodist Church and Faith United Methodist Church
in South Bend. She also received the 75 year pin from Order of
the Eastern Star. Mary was the ultimate caregiver and an amazing
woman; taking care of family all her life and helping others in
the small farming community where she lived. She and her husband,
Thomas, owned the Benton County Dairy, which produced the first
pasteurized milk in the area. During World War II, she drove the
dairy truck delivering dairy products to families and schools
while the men were at war. She moved to South Bend to be near her
family and lived at St. Paul's Retirement Community for about
five years. She moved to Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation in
2000 where she lived until her death.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Sunday
June 8 in Boswell Cemetery in Boswell, IN, with Rev.
Charles Anderson of Boswell United Methodist Church presiding.
Memorials may be made to: Autism Society of America, 7910
Woodmont Ave., Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814-3067 The HICKEY
Funeral Homes and Cremation Service 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd. South
Bend, IN 46615 is handling arrangements.