Mary Ann (Wroblewski) Szobocsan

Mary Ann Szobocsan, 89 years old, of Granger, Indiana died on the morning of October 4, 2024, after finding comfort at the Ernestine M. Raclin House in Mishawaka, Indiana.  She is survived by her son, John of Granger, Indiana.

Mary Ann was born in South Bend, Indiana on January 9, 1935 to Frances and John Wroblewski.  She was the youngest of eight.  Her parents and siblings precede her in death.  Mary Ann, being raised on South Bend’s West Side, attended and graduated from St. Adalbert Grade School and South Bend Catholic High School. Mary Ann began her college studies but stopped for financial reasons; however, she remained a life-long student.  During high school she worked at Bob’s Bakery and then started working at the United Way after graduation.

On June 17, 1961, Mary Ann married Eugene Szobocsan.  They remained married until Eugene’s death in January 2004.  Mary Ann was a pivotal partner in Eugene’s business success, helping him build his business and would often accompany him on a variety of business trips.  They initially lived in Mishawaka but later built her dream home in Granger, where she lived up to the time of her death.

Mary Ann was a vibrant woman until mere days before her passing.  She was a voracious reader, a trait she passed on to her son, when she taught him to read well before Kindergarten.  She also tried to instill that love of reading and learning to her numerous nieces and nephews through magazine subscriptions as Christmas and Birthday gifts.  In her later years she took interest in reading spy thrill novels including those from Brad Thor, Tom Clancy, and John Le Carré as well as biographies and books on current affairs.  She recently completed reading a biography on Grover Cleveland and had begun reading the latest book by H.R. McMaster.

Her numerous nieces and nephews also have fond memories of Christmas and Easter holiday celebrations hosted by Mary Ann.  They often found the house filled with gourmet treats and mountains of pastries as she went about with fastidious attention to detail in the presentation and herself.

Mary Ann was also devoted to exercise and fervently went to the gym three times a week starting in the early 1970s.  She was a fixture at CFX on Grape road in Mishawaka where she pedaled the stationary bike for over half-an-hour then took to a round of resistance training for similar amount of time.  Her son was often asked, much to her chagrin, her age as many were amazed by the level of her physical activity.  Mary Ann, even in significant discomfort, visited CFX days before her passing.

Visitation for Mary Ann will be on Thursday, October 10th, at McGann Hay, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23 Granger, Indiana, Entrance off Cherry Rd., from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.  A Rosary will be prayed at 6:45 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 State Hwy 933, South Bend, on Friday, October 11th, at 10:00 AM.  Burial will follow with entombment at St. Joseph Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana.

Memorial donations should be made to the Center for Hospice Care/Ernestine M. Raclin House, wwwcfhcare.org, in Mary Ann’s name. They were absolute angels during the past few days providing the comfort and succor she so badly needed.