Jane Ann (Gember) Marz

Jane Ann (Gember) Marz, 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep in Indianapolis on January 19, 2024. She was born on February 5, 1931, in South Bend, to Blase and Angela (Chmara) Gembarzewski and spent her entire life in South Bend except for three brief periods. First, during the Great Depression, when she and her brother moved in with her maternal grandmother’s family in Bay City, Michigan, second, when she attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, and finally, six months ago, when she moved to Indianapolis to be near two of her children while in hospice. She graduated from St. Joseph Grade School in 1944, St. Mary’s Academy in 1948 and St. Mary’s College in 1953, where she earned a BS in Nursing. In 1958 she earned an MS in Nursing from Marquette University.

On September 1, 1958, she married her husband of 63 years, Paul A Marz, who preceded her in death in 2022. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Edmund and sister, Monica.

She is survived by her five children: Mark (Sue) Marz of Michigan City, Mary (William) Hutchens of Indianapolis, Michael (Alexandrina) Marz of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, Martha (Vincent) Fortunato of St. Louis, Missouri, Matthew Marz of Indianapolis; and seven granddaughters: Monica, Angela, Rose, Veronica Jane, Antonia, Veronica Lynn and America.

Jane began her career in health care in 1944 at the age of 13 washing dishes in the pediatrics department of St. Joseph’s Hospital for 20 cents an hour. As an RN she worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital and taught at the Holy Cross School of Nursing, where she became Assistant Director, and at the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She later worked in the University of Notre Dame Student Health Center and finished her career at Memorial Home Care.

In retirement, she and Paul traveled the world, including visiting all seven continents. While she enjoyed reading and knitting, her greatest joys in life were her family, faith, and hosting an eclectic collection of family and friends for holidays and every Notre Dame Football weekend.  Jane was dearly loved and her generosity and humor will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Saturday, January 27, at St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church in South Bend, where she was a parishioner for over 60 years. Visitation will precede Mass at 11:00 am and Internment at Cedar Grove Cemetery will follow Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the humanitarian charity of your choice.