Mary Ann (Szczechowski) Lacay

October 29, 1934 ~ October 18, 2025

Mary Ann Lacay, 90, a lifelong resident of South Bend, passed away peacefully, just 11 days from her 91 st birthday on October 18 in Tanglewood Trace Assisted Living, Mishawaka. The eldest of four children, Mary Ann was born on Oct. 29, 1934, to Lillian (Slazewski) and Sylvester Szczechowski of South Bend, who predeceased her.

Mary Ann graduated from Washington High School and attended IU South Bend for a bachelor’s degree in teaching. It was at Washington where she made lifelong friendships with a group of girls. They called themselves The Maidens and stuck with the name even in their later years.

Mary Ann met Joseph J. Lacay, who became her high school sweetheart. After graduation and his serving with the Army in Korea, they married on July 2, 1955, in St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church. Initially, Mary dedicated herself to motherhood, then in 1975 she transitioned to working beside Joe, together they had built Lacay Fabrication Co., in South Bend. In 1985, Joe passed away, leaving the family business with Mary Ann. Mary Ann went on to carry it forward, proving her fearlessness and dedication to his memory and her family as she filled Joe’s position as president of the company. Mary Ann retired as CEO in 2012.

Retirement meant, most of all, enjoying life with her children, and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also continued her travels, often with her surviving sister Lousie (Meier). An annual trip to Old Orchard Beach, Maine was a highlight. The Szczechowski sisters (Louise and Delphine) and brother-in-law (Delphine’s husband Bob Levesque) gathered to enjoy time together and indulged in seafood cuisine. When Mary Ann was not traveling, she enjoyed dinners out with her sister, her brother, and her sister-in-law. The four usually would return to Mary Ann’s, where she would make perfect Manhattans. She also was a master cook and baker, most faithfully including the treasured family traditions of making Polish kieflies and baranek for holidays.

Another pastime was watching Notre Dame football. Mary Ann attempted to remain respectable while watching the game; eventually her excitement led to some enthusiastic yelling at the screen. Followed up with a Monday morning ritual of recapping the game with her son, Joe.

Most important in Mary Ann’s life, above all else, was being the mother of her beloved four children, three of whom survive her: daughters Ann Marie (Don) Filley, of Simonton Lake, son Joseph D.(Michelle) of Mishawaka and Loraine (Bill) Cira, of New Castle, CO, Another daughter, Delphine, died on June 24, 1976. Mary Ann is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Eric (Linda) Filley, of Phoenix AZ; Ryan (Jessica) Filley, of Warsaw, IN; Mathew Filley, of Mishawaka; Joseph D. (Tanya) Lacay, of Fowler,IN; Jessica VanDeVeire (Chris) of Granger, IN; Billy Cira, of Wheat Ridge,CO; Lindsey (John) Casillas, of Aurora, CO; Jonathan Cira of New Castle, CO; and Everett Lacay and Ella Lacay, both of Mishawaka. Ten great-grandchildren: McKenna, Madison, Bella, Kinsley, Callen, Bennett, Garrett, and Lucas Filley; Sophia Lacay, Carson and Grant VanDeVeire; Stevie and Rue Casillas. Mary Ann’s sister, Louise Meier, of South Bend, and her brother, Bill (Kathy) Sechowski, of South Bend, also survive. Her third sibling, Delphine Levesque, who lived in Lockport, NY, died on Sept. 7, 2024.

Visitation for Mary Ann will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, with a rosary being said at 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, October 25th at 10:00, the family will be receiving visitors from 10:00-10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony De Padua Church (2310 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend) with the funeral mass following at 10:30 and burial afterward at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 24981 State Road 2, South Bend. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Mary Ann’s honor to the Heart-to-Heart Hospice Care or St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church The family would like to thank the staff at Tanglewood Trace Assisted Living and Heart to Heart Hospice who took good care of Mary Ann in her final days.

10/21/2025 djb

https://www.kaniewski.com/obituary/MaryAnnSzczechowski-Lacay