Thelma Therese Chavarria

"I prayed today my mother would be healed and be without pain. God heard our prayer and my beautiful, wonderful, courageous mother passed away today. There is a new name written down in Glory! I love you mom"...Thelma Therese Ortega Chavarria breathed her last breath as she said "YES" to God's calling her home on July 7, 2013.

She was born December 21, 1933,in Van Wert county and was raised in Venedocia, Ohio. She was the loving daughter of Hilario and Helen (Hernandez) Ortega and beloved wife of Rumaldo Chavarria, whom she married November 17, 1951.

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

Thelma was an active member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in which she gave of her time and talent to the Rosary Altar Society, Choir, Extra Ordinary Eucharistic Minister, Lector and the Women's Bible Study.

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

She leaves behind her loving husband, Rumaldo Chavarria of Van Wert, OH; Nine children, Mary (Ron) Eix and Michael (Pam) Chavarria, both of Van Wert, OH, Barbara (George) Deckard of Ft. Wayne, IN, David Chavarria of Bluffton, IN, Andrea (Mark) Chavarria-Shaw of Wilmington, OH, Suzanne (Rick) Kreischer, Steven (Vicki) Chavarria, Robert Chavarria and Julie Chavarria-Robinson, all of Van Wert, OH; Ten siblings, John Ortega of Vandalia, OH, David Ortega of Hudson, IN, Marion Ortega of Van Wert, OH, Larry Ortega of Ft. Wayne, IN, Inez Ruiz of Toledo, OH, Esther Golden of Lima, OH, Mary Ochoa, Thea Guerrero and Shirley Ortega, all of Ft. Wayne, IN, and Delores Canales of Van Wert, OH. She was blessed with 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert on Thursday, July 11, 2013 from 2-7 p.m. with the recital of the Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 12, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Van Wert, OH with Father Stanley Szybka as the celebrant. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, OH.

Memorials to Van Wert Area Visiting Nurses, American Cancer Society or American Diabetes Society.