Obit: Lato, Mary H. (1911 - 2006)

Contact:  Dolores (Mohr)
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Lato, Grzegoska, Wawernia, Frantz, Melton, Walther

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI) April 26, 2006

Lato, Mary H. (*27 Nov. 1911 - March 2006)*Taken from the SSDI.

Mary H. Lato died peacefully in her Sequim home of age related causes. She was 94.

She was born in Chicago to Polish immigrants Joseph and Catherine (Grzegoska) Wawernia, Melton, Walther

She married John Lato in Lansing, MI on August 8, 1931.

The Latos began married life in Chicago before moving to a dairy farm in Thorp, WI.

They also owned a tavern in Neillsville, WI, a grocery store in Thorp, WI, another dairy farm in Athens, WI, and a motel in Menomonie, WI. They then moved to their first retirement home in Ocala, FL, and returned to Eau Claire, WI and built their own home there. In 1983, they moved to Sequim.

She enjoyed fishing and the Mariners and took her first motorcycle ride on February 25th, less than a month before her passing.

Mrs. Lato enjoyed knitting and crocheting, most notably crocheting the "Our Father" panels as displayed in the sanctuary at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sequim and St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Forks as well as churches in Menomonie, WI and Rockford, IL.

She remained an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, participating in the Legion of Mary and ushering as recently as last year.

Mrs. Lato was a hospice volunteer for two years after the death of her husband John Sr. on May 13, 1998.

Survivors include daughters Caroline E. Frantz of Cherry Valley, IL; Irene H. Melton of Medford, WI; daughter and son-in-law Delores A. "Dee" and Richard Walther of Ocala, FL; son Philip J. Lato of Sequim; son and daughter-in-law Louis J. and Zinnia Lato of Forks; son and daughter-in-law John Jr. and Wendy Lato of Everett, WA; brother-in-law Joseph and wife Caroline Lato of Stratford, WI along with 21 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Lato was preceded in death by daughter-in-law Esther Lato of Sequim; brothers, Edward, Louis, Anthony, Frank, Andrew and Paul Wawernia and sisters, Jenny and Valeria. Mary was the oldest of all her siblings.

Services were held on Wednesday, March 29, at 6 p.m. A Rosary and visitation followed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Sequim.

There will be a mass held on Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple St., Sequim.

 

 


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