Mary Rita Stein

Mary Rita Stein, 91, formerly of Anderson and recently of Salem, Indiana, passed away on May 25, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on June 7, 1925 in Anderson to Harry Patrick and Margaret (Weasel) Kelly. She later married the love of her life, Joseph Stein, enjoying nearly 57 years of happy and fulfilling companionship with her true partner in life. During WWII Mary Rita was employed by Delco Remy. After her children were raised, she served as dietary aide at St. Mary’s School cafeteria as well as a local nursing home. A devout Catholic, she was a longtime parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In recent years, she attended Carter’s Creek Christian Church in Mitchell, IN where the congregation warmly embraced her. Mary Rita was a compassionate and loving person, throughout life devoting herself to the care of those who were ill or less fortunate. To be in her presence was to be gifted with her boundless affirmation and her belief in contributing to the greater good. Widely admired for her culinary skills, she was particularly noted for her deft touch baking cakes, pies, cookies, and cupcakes relished by her family as well as a cadre of devoted customers with whom she shared her wares from home. She also possessed the proverbial green thumb, fashioning her home and yard alive with a variety of blooms – many of them featuring her favorite color blue. She is survived by her children, Laura (Anthony) Sorg of Campbellsburg, IN, Kevin (Debra) Stein of Dunlap, IL, Mary Jo (Dennis) Sink of Anderson; grandchildren, Angela (Richard) Hansen, Christopher (Heather) Sorg, Dana (Abram) George, Ryan (Laura) Sink, Kirsten (TJ) Ukleja, and Joseph Stein. She was also blessed with great grandchildren, Keagan Sorg, Abigail Sorg, Mia and Claire George, Alexa and Liam Sink, and Brynn Ukleja. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, parents, and three brothers, Bernard, Robert and Marion (Sandy) Kelly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Anderson. Burial will be at East Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory with a Rosary at 7:30 pm.