Obituaries

Mary Barbara Szemplinski
November 1, 1927 – January 19, 2014
Mary was born in Chicago IL. Attended St. Mary’s and graduated high school early and with honors. She went on to become a paralegal secretary at GTE and retired with her husband Richard after many years there.
Mary was an avid volleyball player, softball player and figure skater in her younger years. She won many competitions and awards. As a young girl, Mary received her first pair of figure skates for Christmas from Al Capone, who was very generous during the depression. Mary was also recruited for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), but declined because of the traveling involved.
Later in life, Mary swam, rode horses, played tennis, golf, snow skied and fished. After Mary and Richard retired, they took up skiing and traveled to Wisconsin and Michigan. Mary and Richard downhill skied up until they were 75 years old. Mary also played golf with Richard as this was one of his favorite hobbies. Mary never missed a hockey game or baseball game where both grandsons played. Mary also liked to fish and play cards where she taught her grandson’s all about that too. One of Mary’s hobbies was in Gemology and the study of precious stones and the regions where they were mined.
The best years of her life were the last 15 where she lived across the street from her grandson’s and saw them every day and participated in their lives.
Richard composed this poem after Mary passed. It read as follows:
“Mary, I will always remember your face and smile and most of all your love. You are gone from my life, but not from my heart and thoughts. Love you Honey, Richard.”
Mary was survived by her husband Richard, they were married 61 years.
By her daughter Joni and her husband Gary Herbert, and grandchildren Brandon and Michael.

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