Maxine G. Avery, 78, of LaPorte, died peacefully at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2013, at her home surrounded by her family.
She was born Dec. 4, 1934, in South Chicago, IL, to Theophil “Ted” and Veronica (Dressler) Ziarnek and had lived in LaPorte since 1942, coming from South Chicago.
Maxine retired from Norwest Bank as a teller and originally worked for LaPorte Bank and Trust. She was also a cosmetics consultant for Merle Norman Cosmetics. She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, St. Peter Madonna Circle, Psi Iota Xi and LaPorte Hospital Auxiliary. She had served as president and treasurer of Holy Family Hospital Auxiliary and as a eucharistic minister at St. Peter Church. Maxine enjoyed being in several bridge groups and gardening. She loved nature and the outdoors, and her cat, Daisy.
She leaves behind five daughters, Verna J. (Robert) Wiles of LaPorte, Martha A. Avery of Indianapolis, Jennifer L. (Joseph) Rosales of Edinburg, TX, Amy J. (Cory) Huber of LaPorte and Sara J. (Steve Freeman) Weaver of Indianapolis; five grandchildren, Connor and Bailey Huber, Sophia and Grace Rosales and Avery Weaver; two sisters, Marie Mazur of LaPorte and Bernadette Sanders of Galena, OH; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband and four sisters, Irene Backiewicz, Eleanor Minich, Christine Todd and Mildred Ziarnek.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at St. Peter Catholic Church, LaPorte, with Rev. Joseph Angotti officiating. Visitation will be at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Wednesday, May 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. The rosary will be recited Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Private family burial will take place at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Catholic Church, 1104 Monroe St., LaPorte, IN 46350; LaPorte Hospital Foundation Scholarship Fund, 1007 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350; or LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter, 2855 W. Ind. 2, LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.