Mary Teresa (Benko) Wagner

On this day of our Lord, Wednesday, July 13, 2011, Mrs. Mary T. Wagner entered eternal life. She was born Mary Teresa Benko, a coal miner's daughter, to Mary (Roth) and Matthew L. Benko in Clinton, IN, on Dec. 31, 1919.

She is the second child of this couple, having an older brother Matthew of Mishawaka, IN, and a younger sister Rose Ann Andrysiak, deceased. At an early age her family moved to South Bend, IN, where she graduated from Riley High School. It was in South Bend she met and married Carroll M. Wagner and they moved to LaPorte in 1950.

Her husband preceded her to eternal life in October of 2000. Mrs. Wagner has three children: a son, William C. of Napa, CA, and two daughters, Barbara (Julius) DeCocq of Union, MI, and Christella (Kenneth) Moryl of LaPorte.

Mrs. Wagner was employed by Holy Family Hospital, Indiana License Bureau and Whirlpool, as well as other companies in LaPorte. She was involved in PTA and was a lifetime member. LaPorte Little Theatre was on of her activities; she appeared in plays such as "Carousel" and "Oliver" and she played Auntie Em in "The Wizard of Oz." She was a tutor with the LaPorte school system and was named a 1993 Outstanding National School Volunteer; she also received The Governor's School Volunteer Award that year.

She attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church and is a member of St. Peter Parish, where she taught faith information and was a lector for many years. Along with her children she has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews' two special Godsons, Kenneth Andrysiak and Daniel Hensell; two special couples, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kowalczyk and Mr. and Mrs. Rick Hensell, also Judy Amor to remember her. One granddaughter preceded her to eternal life.

A Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, July 15, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, LaPorte, with Father Gerald Sroka officiating. Visitation will be at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Thursday, July 14, from 4 to 8 p.m., and at the church Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. A prayer service will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Patton Cemetery, LaPorte, in the Good Shepherd section.

In lieu of flowers, may the family suggest memorial contributions be made to St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, MT 59004; or Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607-2906

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

09/27/2024 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73309329/mary_teresa_wagner