"Dear Jack,I think you may remember me; I was the religion writer for the Indianapolis Star while you were editor of the Criterion. My husband and I send you condolences on the death of your wife. (We also have been married 55 years.)May the Lord bless and keep you as you deal with your loss.Carol and Ed Elrod"
In loving memory of
Marie Fink
December 31, 1969 - December 31, 1969
Marie Therese Fink, 76, died on May 17. She was born Marie Waldron on Feb. 22, 1934 in Philadelphia, the daughter of Martin and Helen Waldron. She attended John W. Halla-han Catholic School for Girls in Philadelphia and Rosemont College, where she was a member of the Kistler Society (equivalent to Phi Beta Kappa). She married John F. (Jack) Fink on May 31, 1955, the day after her graduation from Rosemont.
She and her husband spent the next eight months in Gulfport, Miss., where Jack was stationed as a First Lt. in the U.S. Air Force. In January 1956 they moved to Hunt-ington, Ind., where Jack was employed by the Catholic publishing company Our Sunday Visitor. They moved to Indianapolis in 1984 when Jack became editor of The Criterion, the newspaper for the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Marie was the mother of seven children, all of whom were born in Huntington. However, she always considered her children?s spouses as her children, too, so she be-lieved that she was the mother of seven girls and five boys.
While living in Huntington, Marie was active in various civic organizations as well as those associated with her children?s schools. She was a member of St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Huntington.
In Indianapolis, she was an active member of St. Luke the Evangelist Church, serving as an extraordinary minister of Communion, a member of the Good Samaritan organization, and a past member of the St. Luke School Commission. She participated in the Bridge Club, playing a game that she thoroughly enjoyed. She was also a member of the Procter Club, Our Discussion Club, the St. Augustine Guild, and the Guardian Angels Guild, and she was a volunteer at St. Vincent Hospice. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Kappa social sorority in both Huntington and Indianapolis.
She was employed for a number of years as manager of the Directory and Year-book for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, both preparing the content for the annual book and soliciting the advertising that supported it. She also sold fine jewelry on a part-time basis at both Ayres and Lazarus department stores.
Marie loved to travel with her husband while he was an officer in national and international Catholic press associations. She also planned and helped to lead pilgrimages sponsored by both Our Sunday Visitor in Huntington and The Criterion in Indianapolis. Her greatest planning feat, though, was when she and Jack took their entire family, 25 members, to Ireland for two weeks in 2005 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They chartered their own bus and Marie planned the itinerary to include stops of both his-toric and familial importance, including a chance for her and Jack to renew their wedding vows in the same church where her grandparents were baptized.
Marie was regarded as an excellent hostess for large dinner parties, Christmas parties, bridge parties, family gatherings, and smaller gatherings with friends. The chil-dren?s party she organized on Christmas Eve for 21 years while she lived in Huntington switched to a party on the Sunday before Christmas for many years after she moved to Indianapolis. She was also a master gardener and spent many hours in her gardens mak-ing the world beautiful.
Marie is survived by her husband of 55 years and her children: Regina, who lives in Santa Monica, Calif.; Dr. Barbara, of Columbus, Ohio; Lt. Col. Robert and his wife Maria of Brentwood, Tenn.; Stephen and his wife Tonya of Fort Wayne; Therese Meyer-hoff and her husband Steve of St. Louis; David and his wife Heather of Indianapolis; John and his wife Candice of San Diego; 11 grandchildren; a great-grandchild to be born in November; and a brother, Edward, of Long Island, N.Y.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 21, at Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22, at St. Luke Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church with inurnment in the mausoleum at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery.
You are invited to visit the website www.leppertmortuary.com where you may share a personal memory of Marie, sign the guest book and before her death Marie asked that memorial contributions be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor at St. Augustine Home.
Tributes
"Dear Jack & FamilyWe are so devasted over Maries death. We loved her deeply even thou we were only Alabama friends we are so happy we could share that time of her life.We are much better people for her gently crossing our lifes path.She set so many good life lesson to every one that meet her she will be greatly missed. our love goes out to you and family. My god take her in his loving arms and keep in safe until we are all together again."
"Marie was such a joy to be with...fun, caring, gracious, generous, just a beautiful woman inside and out. We will miss our dear friend so much; and we will always treasure the times we had together, especially at Orange Beach and our travels in Africa.Jack and family, may your loving memories give you peace and comfort. With love and prayers, Dick and Norma Vanderbosch"
"Dear Mr. Fink and Family,I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to you and your family. When you were living in Huntington and attending St. Mary's, Marie and I were in Rosary Sodality together. At that time I was in my late twenties or early thirties. It came time to elect new officers. Marie was President at the time and no one volunteered to be a candidate for her office. I believe she and probably Joanne Pyle asked me if I would be President. Without any experience, I felt unable to take the position. However they told me they would help in any way. I was elected by acclamation much to Marie's joy. Ha.. I can remember the night vividly. As a token of her gratitude after being sworn in, as a gift, she opened my hand and put her rosary beads in my hand and closed my hands around the beads and told me I would do fine. That was a special night. And to this day, I have the rosary beads on my prayer table, use them and remember her fondly. You are in my prayers and may God Bless you during this sad time.Terry Elaine Earhart"
"What precious memories you all (and we all) have of Marie! Her wonderfuly quick sense of humor along with the many Christmas Eves and the 4th of July parties around the pool were so Marie..... I will always remember her endless supply of silverware!! Our prayers and friendship are with you....."
"I was shocked to hear about Marie's passing. I did not know Marie very well but from the short time I knew her from Orange Beach I found her such a beautiful person. I played bridge with her a few times and of course we enjoyed acquafit together. She will be missed. Jocelyn."
"Dear Barbara - please accept my most sincere and warmest condolences on the passing of your mother. She is beautifiul and talented. She enjoyed her visit here, and is now home.Take CareLove Jodi"
"Barbara always spoke with fondness and admiration regarding her parents. Their legacy will live on through you and your children. Mrs. Fink lives in your memories and shared stories, now. She will live as long as you remember.Love, Your Friend and Colleague, Cynthia"
"Dear Mr. Fink, Dave and Family,We are so sorry for your loss. I've got such great memories growing up and being good friends with Dave at Huntington Catholic. Our extra curricular activities and sporting events always included memories of the Fink family in attendance. I know how Marie always loved the time she spent watching her children with a mother's pride, and mostly I remember that I rarely saw her without a smile on her face. The Fink family is in all of our prayers, including my mother Joanne's prayers."
"It was a great joy to spend time with Marie at Orange Beach.She will be hugely missed by all. "
"Dear Jack and family. We were on trips when we heard about Marie from Mike Connelly. Our fond memories of Marie include the Notre Dame/Purdue games we attended together, most of which were won by the Irish. And the wonderfull holiday parties both in Huntington and Indianapolis., And the stop-overs at Orange Beach.. Great host and hostess!!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Jack. Bernie and Nancy"
"Dear Jack and Family,So very sorry to hear that Marie has died. Although I haven't been in contact with you or the family in recent years, there are many fond memories of our times together in Huntington. Marie was a wonderful person, so full of life, intelligence, caring and compassion, and so many other human attributes that we admire. I know she will be missed in your lives as you continue without her. I only hope the wonderful memories you cherish will help to mitigate that loss over time. Take care and God Bless."