Mary Lou (Pepple) Kovatch

Mary Lou Kovatch Feb. 1, 1927 - Feb. 22, 2015 SOUTH BEND - Mary Lou Kovatch, 88, passed away Sunday, February 22, 2015 in her home surrounded by her family. Mary Lou was born February 1, 1927 in South Bend, IN to the late Leroy and Treca (Stoner) Pepple.

On August 5, 1950, Mary Lou married her loving husband, Ernest Kovatch; he preceded her in death on December 8, 2008. Mary Lou is also preceded in death by a sister, Judy Ketcham.

Survivors of Mary Lou include her 6 children, Debra (Jim) Fraser of South Bend, Lisa (Ed) Szarkowicz of Lake Zurich, IL, Mike (Janie) Kovatch of Fishers, IN, Brad Kovatch of South Bend, Rev. Tom Kovatch of Bloomington, IN and Scott (Jill) Kovatch of Granger; 14 grandchildren, Jenna, Evan, Allison, Michele, Teresa, James, Sean, Jessica, Adam, Stephen, Eddie, Matthew, Katherine and Thomas; 4 great-grandchildren, Tori, Keaton, Cole, and Noah; sister, Dixie Brown of Bloomington, IN, and a brother, Craig Pepple of Ann Arbor, MI.

Mary Lou enjoyed gardening and spending time with family and friends. She loved her Golden Retrievers, Lillie and Annie. Mary Lou retired in 1989 from the South Bend Community School Corporation where she was a kindergarten and 6th grade teacher at Tarkington and Greene Elementary Schools.

She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and Sigma Kappa Sorority. Mary Lou volunteered at the Ironwood Health and Rehabilitation Center, the South Bend Soup Kitchen, and at St. Matthews School.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 26, 2015 in the Cathedral of St. Matthew with a visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to COVE Alliance or the Hospice Foundation. COVE Alliance is a missionary venture affiliated with Fr. Tom for orphaned and disadvantaged children in Uganda. www.covealliance.org Hospice Foundation, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544. Condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net.

Published by South Bend Tribune from Feb. 24 to Feb. 25, 2015.

07/22/2023 EJS

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