Mary L. Emig, 72, of Owingsville, Kentucky and formerly of Schererville, Indiana passed away Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at the Saint Joseph- Mt. Sterling hospital in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky after a brief illness.
She was born on December 17, 1948, in Gary, Indiana to the late Arthur C, Kelly and Blanche M. Kelly.
Mary attended Saint Mary of the Lake Catholic School and was a graduate of Wirt High School in Gary, Indiana. She went on to receive bachelor’s degrees of Liberal Arts and Theology, and master’s degrees in U.S. History and Divinity. Her teaching career spanned over a period of 45 years working in schools in the Diocese of Gary in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Mary's career began teaching upper elementary in junior high, grades 5 through 8, and then settled on a track of teaching high school grades 9 through 12. Mary also worked for the Merrillville Community School corporation teaching the adult education course in the evenings, and she volunteered her time as stage technician with the local amateur theatre group performing at Merrillville High School in the summers. She concluded her teaching career in retirement from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois where she taught for 27 years.
Upon retiring, Mary moved to Owingsville, Kentucky. She didn't sit still after retiring. She wanted to stay involved in every aspect of God's work. Most of all, Mary was a woman of faith. She attended both St. Julie Catholic Church in Owingsville and Jesus Our Savior in Morehead, Kentucky. She volunteered at Christian Social Services in the New Hope clinic. She served as a member of the Bath County Public Library board and was an advocate for anti-racism. Mary tutored at Adult Basic Ed, again helping students earn their GED, and she was a member of the Catholic Community of Appalachia. When she wasn't volunteering, Mary enjoyed reading, traveling and spending time with her grandsons. During her lifetime, Mary traveled to all 50 United States and a number of countries on four continents.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Kelly of Atlanta, Georgia, who is survived by his wife Diane and sons Jay and Todd.
She is survived by two daughters, Christina Hunt (Gary) of Owingsville, Kentucky, Erin LaCourt (James) of South Bend, Indiana, and one son, David Emig (Jennifer) of Carbondale, Colorado; three grandsons, Wyatt Means, Evan LaCourt, and Isaac Emig. She is also survived by one sister, Connie Kelly of Peoria, Arizona, and a very special niece, Nina Grubish-Butler (Doug) of Arizona.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 6, 2021, at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel in LaPorte, Indiana with Father Gerald Schweitzer officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM before the service. Mary will be buried at Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte, immediately following the conclusion of the service.
At the family's request, contributions are suggested to Christian Social Services at 44 Coyle St, Owingsville, Kentucky 40360.
Please share prayer, condolences, and memories with the family at EsslingFuneralHome.com.
