Mary A. Shelt, 85 of Elkhart passed away May 22, 2012 at her home. She was born March 1, 1927 in Elkhart to Charles M. and Margaret VanPelt and married Kenneth L. Shelt on May 13 1946. He preceded her in death on January 28 2002. Surviving are a son, Thomas Shelt of Elkhart and grandchildren Shawn (Doreen) Shelt , Dawn (Todd) Evans of Elkhart, and Pedro Corsetti Dinunno of Auston TX. , 6 great-grandchildren and three cousins, Lois Torok ,Charlene Sekora and Lorraine Sales all of Elkhart. Mary was preceded in death by a brother Raymond (Irene) Bakeman and a sister, Marion (Charles) Searvogle. The Shelt family would like to give special thanks to Kim Vuf for her exceptional care and love for our mother during her illness. They would like to give additional thanks to Michelle Jarnigan for her many years of friendship and compassion for doing mother’s hair , Center for Hospice Care, Melissa Cory for being there and Scott Michael for his organizational skills and longtime friendship.

Mary was a homemaker and retired from Whitehall Laboratories. She was a member of the Vikings Club of Mishawaka and the VFW Auxiliary, Elkhart. She enjoyed gardening and reading and loved her children and grandchildren and her little dog Foxy. She liked to spend time at her Shavehead Lake cottage.

Visitation will be Friday from 11 am to 1 pm at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home at Cobblestone Crossing, Elkhart where services will be held at 1 pm. Arlin Epp will officiate. Burial will follow at Prairie Street Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to American Indian Children's Fund( AICF) http://www.americanindianchildren.org/ or call at call Blessed Cloud at 602-568-0414 ,Pet Refuge Center or Elkhart Co. Humane Society or the President Obama re-election campaign. Visit www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com to share a message with the family.