Thelma Therese Ortega Chavarria

Thelma Therese Ortega Chavarria breathed her last breath as God called her home on Sunday, July 7, 2013.

She was born December 21, 1933, in Van Wert County, the loving daughter of the late Hilario and Helen (Hernandez) Ortega. She was the beloved wife of Rumaldo Chavarria, who she married November 17, 1951, and who survives in Van Wert.

Thelma graduated from Van Wert High School in 1951 and was active in the small group of women graduates from her class. She always looked forward to meeting with each month. She also gave of her time at the YWCA, where she held many positions on the board. She had worked at Van Wert Manor and retired from Van Wert County Hospital.

Thelma was an active member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, where she belonged to the Altar Rosary Society, the choir, was an extraordinary Eucharistic minister, a lector and a member of the Women’s Bible Study.

In addition to her husband, survivors include nine children, Mary (Ron) Eix and Michael (Pam) Chavarria, both of Van Wert, Barbara (George) Deckard of Fort Wayne, Ind., David Chavarria of Bluffton, Ind., Andrea (Mark) Chavarria-Shaw of Wilmington, Suzanne (Rick) Kreischer, Steven (Vicki) Chavarria, Robert Chavarria and Julie Chavarria-Robinson, all of Van Wert; 10 siblings, John Ortega of Vandalia, David Ortega of Hudson, Ind., Marion Ortega of Van Wert, Larry Ortega of Fort Wayne, Inez Ruiz of Toledo, Esther Golden of Lima, Mary Ochoa, Thea Guerrero and Shirley Ortega, also all of Fort Wayne, and Delores Canales, also of Van Wert; 18 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

A son, Rumaldo John Chavarria; a special father, Guadalupe Gusman; two grandsons, Nicholas Mason and Bruce Fetzer; a great-granddaughter, Natalie Deckard; a great-grandson, Angel Bleich; one daughter-in-law, Judy Chavarria; and a brother, Joseph Ortega, also preceded her in death.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, July 12, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, with Father Stanley Szybka officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

Calling hours are from 2-7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, with the recital of the Rosary at 7 that evening.

Preferred memorials: Van Wert Area Visiting Nurses, American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Society.

Online condolences can be sent to www.bricknerfuneralhome.com or emailed to bricknerfuneralhome@bright.net.