Mary Jeanette Armstrong

Mary Jeanette “Jarey” Armstrong, 83, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday evening, July 19, at The Willows in St. Joseph where she received exceptional and personal care. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 10:30 A.M., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church Street, in St. Joseph, with Msgr. Michael Osborn officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Joseph. Visitation with the family will be from 4:30 to 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, in St. Joseph with prayers recited at 6:30. Memorials may be made to either the St. Joseph Lion’s Club or to Lake Michigan Catholic Schools. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mary was born on April 28, 1925, in Coldwater, Ohio. She was one of six children born to Aloys and Lucetta Mueller. As a child, she moved to Illinois and graduated from Sandwich High School. She went on to attend Rosary College in River Forest, IL. Mary was proud of her service in the U.S. Navy as a decoder during WWII. She married Donald Armstrong on November 15, 1947, and together they had six children. Jarey was devoted to her family. She was active in the St. Joseph Lioness Club and volunteered for many years at Memorial Hospital Auxiliary in St. Joseph. Additionally she was a long-time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. In her leisure time, Jarey enjoyed traveling, boating, and social events. Most of all, she will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother. Jarey is survived by her children, Karla (Richard) Hake of St. Joseph, Paula (Jerry) Hollon of Richmond, KY, Kurt (Michele) Armstrong of St. Joseph, and Gregg Armstrong of Fort Collins, CO; grandchildren, Aaron & Brian Hake, Jesse, Jonas & Jerome Hollon, Andrea (Andy) Eggert, and Angela & Andrew Armstrong; by her brother, Frank Mueller of Charlotte, NC; and by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Jarey was preceded in death by her husband, Donald in 1994; daughters, Dona and Angela Mary; brothers Harold, Paul, & Louis Mueller; and her sister, Lorena Vilmin.