Mrs. Marie T. Richards, 98, formerly of Joliet, Ill., died Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, at the home of her daughter.
Born May 8, 1914, in South Wilmington, Marie was the daughter of Joseph L. and Louise Pomatto. She was a graduate of St. Joseph School of Nursing in 1934.
Marie married her husband, Jerry Richards, on July 25, 1936, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Joliet. She retired from U.S. Steel after 36 years, where she worked as an industrial nurse.
Marie was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. She loved to travel the world, enjoying life. She was an avid Chicago White Sox and Notre Dame fan, and she was an avid bowler. She was driving and bowling until she was 91. The last game she bowled she scored 154.
Marie was a volunteer and gave to others her entire life. She volunteered at Friends of St. Andrew’s Outreach Commission in Aurora, Colo., and Meals on Wheels of Will County.
Marie was a hard worker who was loved, respected and faithful to family, friends, God and all who knew her. She will leave a great legacy and live on through her family.
Survivors include her two daughters, Frances (Ron) Smeets and Judith A. Richards; her son-in-law, Dave E. (Lynn) Baker; 13 grandchildren, Dr. Norma (Dr. Chad Thompson) Baker, Sue (Mark) Eugenides, Linda (Jeff) Knowles, Teresa (Dino) Studer, Dave (Rebecca) Baker, Carl (Maria) Rutherford, Rich Rutherford, Kim (Rick) Walsh, Carol (Tom) Spalo, Chris Arndt, Brian (Dianne) Rutherford, Ray Jungwirth and Mark Richards; 24 great-grandchildren; 20 great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Louise (the late Ralph) Kelly of Nebraska.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis G. Richards, who died in 1968; her daughter, Joanne Baker, who died in 1985; a granddaughter, Gerri Rae Flannery, who died in 1992; her brother, John (Rose) Pomatto; and her parents, Joseph L. and Louise Pomatto.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 3, from the Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home, 2320 Black Road, to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 18 Woodlawn Ave., at 10 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial.
Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Joliet Area Community Hospice will be appreciated.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.
Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home, 2320 Black Road, Joliet, Ill., is in charge of arrangements. For more information, call (815) 744-0022.
