Harriet Rita Mahaffey, SFO

Harriet Rita Mahaffey, SFO, 91, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2014, at St. Mary Healthcare Center, Lafayette, Ind. Harriet lived in Goodland, IN., from 1949 to 1978, and in Rensselaer from 1978 to 2007, when she moved to St. Mary’s. Harriet was born September 2, 1922, in Chicago to Sophia (Czarnecki) and Harry Hudspeth. She attended Our Lady of Longwood Academy in Chicago, Class of 1941, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 from St. Joseph’s College. During World War II Harriet served as an inspector for the U.S. Army Signal Corp. In Chicago on June 24, 1944, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Harriet married Wyatt W. Mahaffey who passed away April 1, 1976. Harriet was a member of the St. Augustine Catholic Church, Rensselaer, where she was a Lay Minister, Eucharistic Minister and Lector. She was a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and Administrator of Emmaus Mission Center in Logansport, IN, including helping to found Morningstar Girls Home. Harriet was a member of the staff at the Crisis Center in Rensselaer, a tutor for the Jasper County Jail GED Program and a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. She was a Sacristan and instructor for Catechism classes at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Goodland, IN. She was a former leader for both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. Harriet is survived by children, Sharron Lennon, Center Grove, IN., Daniel Mahaffey, Thomasville, NC, Thomas Mahaffey, Francesville, IN., Mary Biernat, Indianapolis, IN, John Mahaffey, Greencastle, IN., Margaret Gibb, League City, TX and James Mahaffey, Plano, TX, 25 Grandchildren, 37 Great-Grandchildren and 5 Great-Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wyatt, one sister, Helen Brandt, and three brothers, Edwin Hudspeth, Harry Hudspeth, and James Hudspeth. Friends will be received at the Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer Monday, July 7, 2014 from 2-8 P.M. where Rosary services will take place at 7 P. M. Funeral Mass will be at St. Augustine Catholic Church Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at 2 P.M. with Fr. Don Davison officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Goodland, IN. Family and friends are invited to gather at Embers Venue in Rensselaer after the burial.

Harriet Rita Mahaffey, SFO

September 2, 1922 - June 28, 2014