Mary A. Soldano

Mary A. Soldano, formerly of Portage, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland where she had resided for the last four years. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:30 A.M. Monday, October 20 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph, with Fr. Thomas McNally officiating.  Private burial will take place at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in Benton Harbor.  Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 until 4:00 P.M. Sunday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  Those wishing to sign Mary’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mary was born September 27, 1922 in Superior, Wisconsin to Joseph & Rose (Dower) Barabe.  On November 5, 1949, she married Marion Soldano in Chicago, Illinois.  She and Marion moved to Portage, Michigan where together they owned and operated Marion Studio & Camera Shop & Kalamazoo Photo Lab, with Mary serving as bookkeeper.  In her free time, Mary enjoyed music.  She was an accomplished pianist & organist.  In her younger years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she enjoyed snow skiing.  Before moving to St. Joseph, she was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Portage, Michigan. Mary is survived by many nieces & nephews & their families including those locally-Robert Catania of Stevensville & Jerry (Kathy) Catania of Benton Harbor; and a special caregiver Judi Wicks.  She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Margaret Torosian, a brother Joseph Barabe, and her husband Marion in 2001.