Mary Perdzock

December 27, 2012 Mary Elizabeth Perdzock, of Jonesboro, formerly of Forrst City, passed away Wednesday, at the Craighead County Nursing Home in Jonesboro. She was ninety-one years of age. She was born on April 25, 1921, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin to Joseph and Elfa Werstlein Perdzock. Her family moved to Forrest City in 1929. Mary was a Catholic and a long-time member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Forrest City, where she was a member of the choir, once serving as choir director, and member and past president of the Altar Society, and later became a Eucharistic Minister of the Church. After school, Mary moved to Little Rock, where she worked for Brown Garment Company, before returning to Forrest City to help establish the Forrest City Garment Company, of which she was a partner. She also worked for Gibson Wholesale Meats for 14 years. She then moved on to Warwick, (later known as Sanyo Corp.) where she retired after 20 years of service. Mary held many positions in the community. In 1960, she was elected as First Vice President of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. In 1964, she was named Vice Chairman by then Governor Orval Faubus to the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, which was created by President Kennedy. Mary was a long-time member and past president of the Business and Professional Women's Club and named "Business Woman of the Year" in 1968. She became an Oblate at Holy Angels Covent in Jonesboro in 1984. In 1993, she was installed as President of the Ladies Auxiliary of Baptist Memorial Hospital, and was a member and former President of the Forrest City Chapter of A.A.R.P. Mary enjoyed painting and excelled as a seamstress. She traveled extensively, visiting Mexico, Canada, Japan and Europe, which included France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Great Britain, and while in Italy, she toured Rome and Vatican City. In her later years, Mary spent time teaching adults how to read, took Communion to the sick, volunteered as one of the "Pink Ladies" at the hospital and was a member of "Friends of the Library". Mary was a very loving and giving person. She was the matriarch of our family. Sister Maxine Vogan, a wonderful friend, once said to Mary, "Thanks for being our role model in how to grow in grace and wisdom. Your smile is always sunshine". Mary is preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Margaret Ann Wolters and Joanne Martin. She is survived by two sisters; Mrs. Bobbie Gunter of West Memphis and Mrs. Patricia Vandiver of Texarkana, Texas, formerly of Forrest City, a brother, Joseph Edward Perdzock of Germantown, Tennessee. Local survivors include a niece, Mrs. Helen Coulon, nephews; Paul Gunter, and wife, Janet, and Jesse Lee Gunter, all of Jonesboro, and a host of nieces and nephews and their families. Services for Mary will be held at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 10:00 A.M, Saturday, with burial in Forrest Park Cemetery. Visitation will be at Stevens Funeral Home, 5:00 to 7:00 P.M, Friday, with a Rosary Service beginning at 7:00 P.M. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. You may log on to stevensfuneralhome.net for the on line registry. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 621 S. Washington, Forrest City, Arkansas, 72335.

Tributes

Mary Perdzock

April 25, 1921 - December 26, 2012