Mary Lamar (Korff) Villaire, age 80 and a longtime resident of Hobart, Indiana passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2020.  She was born on June 20, 1940 to the late Edgar and Geradine (Funston) Korff. In 1958 she graduated from St. Mary of Redford High School Detroit, Michigan.

Married in 1962 and raised 4 children in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. She attended Macomb County Community College and received a full scholarship to continue her Bachelorette program at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated with honors in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in Education: Special Education.

Mary moved to Hobart, Indiana with her 4 children and accepted a Special Education teaching position at Norton Elementary School, Gary, Indiana. In 1985 she earned her master's degree from Purdue University in the Science of Education. The summer of 1992 she joined the Winant Clayton Volunteers and was assigned to live in England and work with handicapped adults.

After 25 years she retired from the Gary School District as a special education teacher. In 2009 she moved to Fon du Lac, Wisconsin and volunteered for the altar society, religious education program, and developed and lead religious retreats. In 2013, after studying for 3 years, she proudly became a member of the Secular Order of Franciscans.

Throughout her entire life she was an artist of many mediums. In early years she studied the traditional Japanese clay art Raku, loved photography, weaving baskets & Reiki. Later she excelled in watercolor and acrylic painting and specialized in Zhostovo Russian folk-art painting. She had an appreciation of music and loved to attend musicals in downtown Chicago. She excelled in all of her artistic interests.  She and her friends enjoyed trips to national parks throughout the U.S. and Canada.

She very much loved and was comforted by her many fur babies- Dolly, Beauregard(Bo), Misty, Louis, Toby, Zoè and Lilly.

Mary was a very sweet, kind, genuine and caring person. She found goodness in everyone. Mary enjoyed getting others to smile and laugh. She endured a lot of teasing, good fun and summer vacationing with her brothers, Charlie and Johnny. She had a very strong faith and was happiest when all of her loved ones were together with her. She deeply loved her children with her entire soul. The love she had to give was truly unconditional. True Angel on Earth & now in Heaven.

She is survived by her four children: Jacqueline (Dave) Desposato of West Bloomfield, Michigan; Francis (Deanne) Villaire of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Christine Villaire of Hobart, Indiana; and Steve (Christine) Villaire of Buchanan, Michigan; brother, John Korff of Flushing, Michigan; nephew, Daniel Korff of Chicago, Illinois and 9 grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; brother Charles (Charlie) Korff; sister in law, Mary Korff; former husband, James Douglas Villaire.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in memory of Mary have been asked to consider:

ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION INDIANA CHAPTER. Donations can be made at website: www.alz.org/indiana

HUMANE SOCIETY OF HOBART, INDIANA. Donations can be made at www.hshobart.org

Due to COVID-19, a private memorial mass will take place at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church, 107 Main Street, Hobart, Indiana. Mary will be laid to rest immediately following in a procession to Calvary Cemetery, 2701 Willowdale Road, Portage, In.  Cremation entrusted to Rees Funeral Home and Cremation services, 600 West Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Indiana. (219) 942-2109 or online condolences at www.reesfuneralhomes.com