OBITUARY: Mary Elizabeth Wolf
On Dec. 5, 2014, Mary Elizabeth Wolf passed away peacefully in the presence of her devoted family at Deaconess Hospital.
Born June 26, 1920, in Evansville, Ind., she was the loving daughter of Arthur J. Beckman and Ida (Seufert) Beckman.
She grew up in Evansville, Ind., where she graduated with the highest honors from Reitz Memorial High School. She was a champion tennis player and avid swimmer, known to swim across the Ohio River and back for sport. After graduation from Evansville Business College, she worked during World War II for the Republic Aviation Corporation in the Treasury Department, and later for Old National Bank.
On Dec. 14, 1946, she and Frank J. Wolf were married in the Log Chapel on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, they lived in Mt. Carmel for five years, before moving to Eldorado where they have lived until the present time.
She was a distinguished member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where she was active in the Choir and in the youth-related activities for many years of service. From early on, she became both a tutor at St. Mary's School for children with reading and learning challenges and, in the process, a model for her own children. She helped lead 4-H activities for young girls for 15 years. In the last years she took delight in relating the fact she was now the "oldest member of the parish."
Her legacy to her family and friends is not to be measured: she left an indelible mark on five generations, beginning with her deep attachment to her parents and brothers in the Beckman family, continuing 68 years of marriage to her devoted husband, and flourishing in her four children, her 10 grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren - all of whom have been touched by her intelligence, generosity, and unfaltering loving nature. Her survivors include her husband Frank J. Wolf; her children: Dr. Maryanne Wolf of Cambridge, Mass.; Joseph Alan Wolf (Barbara Stelmacki Wolf) of St. Louis, Mo.; Karen Rae Wolf-Smith (Barry Smith) of Indianapolis, Ind.; and Gregory Arthur Wolf (Jeanne Morgenthaler Wolf) of St. Louis, Mo. Her grandchildren are: Jeffrey Wolf (Amanda Becker Wolf); Lindsey Wolf Kerber (John Kerber); Timothy Wolf (Stefanie Boehme Wolf); Kevin Wolf (Jessica Johans Wolf); Maribeth Wolf Snodgrass (Dan Snodgrrass); Karen Wolf-Schmitt (Zachary Schmitt); Drew Smith; Anna Smith; Benjamin Wolf Noam; and David Wolf Noam. Her great-great-grandchildren are: Jacob and Avery Wolf; Caroline and Alison Kerber; Samantha and Patrick Snodgrass. There can be no more deeply beloved mother, grandmother, spouse and friend.
Visitation will be held 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, at the Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado. The funeral mass will take place at St. Mary's Church 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. In place of flowers, she requested any memorial contributions be directed to St. Mary's Cemetery Fund or to the Eldorado Memorial Library.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at watsonfuneralhome.net