Mary Louise Udell, 69, of Columbia City, Indiana and formerly of Joliet, Illinois, passed away Friday, June 17, 2022 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. Born June 27, 1952 in Fort Hood, Texas, she was the daughter of Melvin L. and Shirley L. (Schwarze) Workman.

While growing up, Mary's father served in the U.S. Army and was stationed at a few bases. They moved to Germany when she was young and then back to the United States. By 1962, her family moved to Joliet, Illinois where she graduated from Joliet West High School with the Class of 1970 and attended Joliet Junior College. After her children were born, Mary went back to college to received an Associates Degree in Nursing and for over 24 years devoted a part of her life to helping families at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center, where she worked in Pediatrics and Labor and Delivery. Mary would retire in 2017 and move to Indiana where one of her daughters lived.

A member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Columbia City, Mary was active in the church's Women's Association. Mary was open, accepting and loving. She always cared for others, was a strong woman, and was a bonus mom and loved by many! Mary was an avid reader, gifted at crocheting, and life's reward to her after raising three daughters was having nine loving grandchildren whom she adored.

Mary is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Michelle and Bill W. Mills, Kathleen "Kat" and Kyle Egolf and Jessica and Matthew Colby; grandchildren, Billy D., Zachary, Lee, William, Adelaide, Lincoln, Penelope, Mirabelle and Sullivan; sisters and brothers-in-law, Elizabeth and John Lancaster and Patricia  and Chuck Kwasniewski. Along with her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her sister, Jackie Winemiller.
 
A Celebration of Mary's life will be 3 pm, Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 709 W Business 30, Columbia City with visitation beginning one hour prior. Pastor Ross O'Dell will be officiating. With reading being so important to Mary, memorial donations may be given in her memory to the Armstrong Early Learning Center. Donations may be mailed to DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com to send Mary's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.