Dolores A. Mendez

Dolores A. Mendez , 85, of Markle, Indiana and a former longtime resident of Decatur, passed away Friday, October 20, 2017 at Markle Health & Rehabilitation.

She was born on Monday, August 29, 1932 in Monroe, Indiana the daughter of the late Eutimio Ayala and the late Maria (Ortiz) Ayala. She married Paul G. Mendez on October 3, 1950 in Dallas, Texas.

Dolores was a homemaker & retired from Adams Memorial Hospital with 21 years of service as a CNA.

She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church & the Rosary Society. She was also a member of St. Mary's Hispanic Society and a volunteer at St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Dolores loved her family. She was a strong and devoted wife, a caring mother and a kind grandmother. She taught her family how to live, to love and respect each other. She taught her family to care for and comfort each other. She taught her family faith in God and to live everyday with joy & laughter. Her family will miss her dearly.

Survivors include her husband, Paul G. Mendez of Markle; two daughters, Karen D. (Marlin) Bowman of Decatur & Eileen J. (Chabela) Mendez of Oakland, CA; six sons, Paul Jr. Mendez, Eric J. (Margaret) Mendez, & Matthew N. Mendez all of Decatur; Edward M. (Dianna) Mendez of West Palm Beach, FL; David J. Mendez of Lebanon, IN; & Patrick A. Mendez of Madison, IN; eight siblings, Mike Ayala, Rosie Herrera, Louis Ayala, Jessie Ayala, Cora Herrera, Juanita Ruelas, Johnny Ayala, & Teresa Miranda all of the Fort Worth, TX area. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Alicia (Patrick) Mendez-McCarthy; Zivan (Melissa) Mendez; Gregory (Tiffany) Mendez; Alexander Mendez; Peter Johnson; Mary Johnson; Sean Andrews; Emma Mendez; Samuel Mendez; & two great-grandchildren, Ian Mendez & Alejandra Mendez.

Dolores was preceded in death by two brothers, Stanley Ayala & Joseph Ayala; and three sisters, Annie Contrerras, Carmen Felipe, & Isabella Gonzales.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 23, 2017 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church with visitation one hour prior . Fr. Bob Lengerich will officiate. Interment will follow in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will also be from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, October 22 at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur followed by the reciting of the Holy Rosary at 5:00 p.m.

Preferred memorials are to St. Vincent DePaul Society or Markle Health & Rehabilitation Auguste's Cottage.