Mary Elizabeth Watgen

Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Elizabeth Watgen, 89, Lawrence will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31, 2014 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence. Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2014 at All Saints Catholic Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois. Mary died Monday, January 27, 2014 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Mary was born August 8, 1924 in Evanston, IL the daughter of Emil and Florence (Rogers) Perkowitz.

She was an accountant for Allstate Insurance. Mary was an active member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, she also served as a Eucharistic Minister. Mary enjoyed other memberships which included Welcome Wagon, Forever Young Group and Chat and Stitch.

She married Anthony M. Watgen on May 8, 1948 in Evanston, Illinois. He preceded her in death on July 12, 2000.

Survivors include one daughter, Grace Orosz, Staten Island, New York; two sons, Peter Watgen, Tom Watgen, both of Lawrence, Kansas; two grandsons; Collin A. Watgen and Thomas A. Watgen. She was preceded in death by her brothers Roger Perkowitz, John Perkowitz, and her daughter-in-law, Heather Watgen.

The family will greet friends from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 30, 2014 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

The family suggests memorials in her name to Corpus Christi Catholic Church and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.