In Memory
Anna M. Avery
Aug. 12, 1931 - Jul. 21, 2016
EDWARDSBURG - Anna M. Avery, 84, passed away Thursday in Elkhart General Hospital after a brief illness. Anna was born on August 12, 1931, to the late Steve and Ursula Toth on a small farm located on what is now the Main Street and the Toll Road overpass. She and her two late sisters, Margaret and Mary, were raised on that farm. In 1992, when the bridge was built, she and her sisters were there when the large oak tree they played on was taken down.
From Anna's first marriage to Michael Peters, who survives, brought two wonderful children, Larry (Pamela) Peters of Osceola and Kathy Peters of South Bend. On June 2, 1979, in Three Rivers, Michigan, Anna married Herbert Avery. They spent 37 wonderful years together. Anna is also survived by two stepsons, Jeffery (Melissa) Avery of Muskegeon, MI, and Timothy Avery of Three Rivers, MI; grandchildren, Kristin (Peters) Logan of Mishawaka, Stefani (Larry) Hanks of South Bend, Amanda (Peters) Hemenway of Osceola, Scott Peters of South Bend and Matthew Avery of Three Rivers; and surviving great-grandchildren, Gavin Konnor Logan, Cora Ann Hanks and KaiAnne Hemenway. She was preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Ursula, and sisters, Margaret Lowman and Mary Horvath.
Family, friends and music meant the world to Anna. She taught herself to play the piano at an early age and from there learned the accordion. She had several bands in her life playing polkas, waltzes, chachas and country music. She never learned to read music, but if she heard a song, she could learn it. One of the highlights of her career was playing on stage with Frank Yankovic, “the Polka King.” She also had the honor of playing the huge pipe organ at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame. She had many followers and also made several CD recordings. If there was a keyboard or a piano in the room, she would play it. She loved playing the Notre Dame Victory March the most.
Anna also loved the outdoors, fishing and camping on Harwood Lake in Three Rivers. She spent many days enjoying the lake and once caught a huge Bass which she had mounted. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the light of her life. She never met a person she didn't like. She had a heart of gold for everyone and anyone. Treasures like her will never be forgotten.
Her family would like to thank her doctors and the nursing staff in the Third Floor Critical Care Unit at Elkhart General and Dr. Thomas Akre for the kindest care over the last few weeks.
Visitation will be at the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 West Main St., Edwardsburg, on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, from 3-6 PM, followed by a prayer service at 6:00 PM. Cremation will take place as were her wishes. A Celebration of Life will be planned for August 12, 2016, on what is her birthday, at the American Legion Post in Edwardsburg.
Arrangements are by the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg.
07/27/2022 DEC
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