Mary Verna Tarr, age 103, passed away Tuesday, February 1, 2011. She was born on May 2, 1907 in Huron, Ohio to the late John and Elizabeth (Szirovecz) Medvecz. Mary was a former longtime Gary and Hobart resident. She was a member of St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church, St. Anne's Confraternity of Christian Mothers and the Hobart Family YMCA.

Mary is survived by sister Helen Neitzel of Hobart, granddaughter Florence Flewellen and great grandchildren Nadia, Ninah, Siera Flewellen, Jaycelynn Sullivan, all of Hebron, and also her extended family, for whom she was a mentor, niece Mary Alynn (Basile) Sherrell, and great nieces Lia Pamela (Basile) Ritchey and Serena Sherrell. She was preceded in death by husband George M. Tarr and son George J. Tarr, sisters Elizabeth Lodney, Rose Basile, and brothers John Medvecz, Louis Maxwell Goff.

"Auntie Mary" was a natural teacher and mother to many. She loved to swim and drove to the YMCA to play water volleyball until she was 98. She will be remembered by family, friends and her numerous godchildren, for her guidance, generosity, determination, her unwavering faith and love of church, and the delicious Hungarian nut rolls, palacsinta, and stuffed cabbage she shared with us for as long as we can remember.

Friends and family are invited to visitation Friday, February 11, 2011, 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with Rosary at 3:00 p.m., Prayers Saturday, February 12, 2011, 9:30 a.m. at Rees Funeral Home, 600 W. Old Ridge Rd. Hobart, proceeding to St. Bridget for a mass of Christian burial at 10:00 a.m., then to Calumet Park Cemetery, Father Dominic V. Bertino officiating.

Her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations are made St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital, St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church, Holy
Trinity Hungarian Church of East Chicago, or charity of donor's
choice.