Mary Margaret Lenz
Mary Margaret (Mack) Lenz died at the Hospice House in
Smithfield Township on Wednesday, March 11, having battled cancer for three months.
Mary was born in Adams County, Corning, Iowa, on Nov. 19, 1924,
to Lewis Bernard and Anna Isabel (Curry) Mack. She graduated from
Corning High School in 1942, Ottumwa Heights College in 1944, and
received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska
at Omaha in 1970. She married John Francis Lenz on Dec. 30, 1950, at St.
Patrick's Catholic Church in Corning, Iowa.
She was raised working in the family hardware stores, Curry and
Mack, and later Mack Hardware and Appliance. One of her fondest school
memories was marching as a member of the high school band, which won
first place in national competitions. Her career as an educator in the
Corning Schools began in 1946 as a teacher, and she retired in 1990,
having spent 18 years as junior and senior high school librarian.
She was always active in her communities starting as Girl Scout
leader and Junior Catholic Daughter sponsor. She was a member of
American Association of University Women, and Catholic Daughters of
America. She held leadership positions in the Departmental Clubs of
Adams County, Happy Hollow Country Club Women's Board and Centennial
Board. She also co-directed the Centennial pageant and was a co-founder
with her husband of the Icarian Players where she co-produced many
community productions. She was active in St. Patrick's Church, served as
choir director and organist, Altar Society member and president,
co-managed The Dollar Shop, as well as Eucharist Minister. Mary served
for many years as board member of Alegent-Mercy Health System. She
enjoyed working with and collecting antiques, and together with her
husband, John, they operated Lenz Refinish and Repair for many years.
After moving to East Stroudsburg in 1999, she volunteered with the
pastoral ministry for St. Matthew's Catholic Church at Pocono Medical
Center, as well as with the Monroe County Historical Association at the
Stroud Mansion. She and John traveled extensively.
She is survived by her husband, John; her daughter, Mary
Bernadette Lynch; son-in-law, Christopher B. Lynch; grandchildren,
Joseph Francis Lynch, Elizabeth Rose Lynch and Andrew John Lynch of East
Stroudsburg; brother, Lewis Francis Mack of Corning, Iowa; sisters and
brothers-in-law, Joan Haley Mack Gebhardt of Mission, Texas; Mary Jo
Lenz Galipeau and Dr. Aurel Galipeau of Lakewood, Calif.; Audrey Bannick
Lenz Harmening of Lakefield, Minn.; and many, much-loved nieces,
nephews, cousins and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents and her mother and
father-in-law, Elizabeth Wagner Lenz and Charles John Lenz; her son,
Charles John Lenz; her brothers, Robert John Mack and Raphael Henry Paul
Mack; and infant brother, Joseph William Mack; sisters and
brothers-in-law: Patricia Johns Mack, Phyllis Watts Mack, Alberta Lenz
Banck and Frank Banck, Marcella Lenz Mauch and Leonard Mauch, Mildred
Lenz Homan and Loyal Homan, Charles G. Lenz and Elmer Lenz.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on
Saturday, March 14, at St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church, Brodhead
Avenue and Ridgeway Street, East Stroudsburg. Services at St. Patrick's
Catholic Church and burial in Calvary Cemetery in Corning, Iowa, will be
announced at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the VNA Hospice House of Monroe
County, 502 Independence Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, or the
charity of one's choice.
(Pocono Record, Stroudsburg, PA, March 12, 2009)
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