Mary Elizabeth (Mannix) Rice

Who can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value. Proverbs 31:10 Mary Elizabeth (Mannix) Rice passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at home. Mary was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to her loving parents, John Joseph Mannix and Mabel Hargrove Mannix. She attended Belmont High School and the Longy School of Music. A concert pianist, Mary played for civic groups, school functions, and in classical performances from high school on. She attended Mount St. Mary's College (New Hampshire), and earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Boston University in 1953. After working at Keystone Financial Group and Myerson in Boston, she enrolled in Boston College Law School in 1955, where she met the love of her life, Charles Edward Rice. They were drawn together by their strong devotion to God, love for the Catholic Church and shared sense of humor. They married in 1956 in Boston and spent the next two years in Quantico, Virginia, where Charlie was stationed in the Marine Corps. Mary was very proud of their time in the service and cherished the lifelong friendships they developed within the military community. In 1958, Mary and Charlie moved to Garden City, Long Island, where she attended to a growing family of children while Charlie taught at Fordham Law School. She supported Charlie in his political work, including founding the Conservative Party of New York. Mary remained active in her community, playing her beloved piano at St. Anne's Parish in Garden City, and with her husband she was an active member of the Third Order of St. Francis. In 1969, when Charlie became a professor at Notre Dame Law School, they moved to Indiana where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mary was widely known and loved in South Bend and Mishawaka. She was a daily Communicant, and prayed for priests and seminarians daily. Her empathy and kindness led others to share their life stories within minutes of meeting her, and she helped countless people with the smallest of problems and the most overwhelming of tragedies. Mary embraced life with faith and confidence in God's loving providence. Her sense of humor was quick and fierce, her legendary one-liners delivered with impeccable timing. The only thing she loved more than West End Bakery doughnuts or classic music was a good hockey fight. A staunch defender of children and the family Mary was an active supporter of many pro-life and pro-family organizations, including the Women's Care Center. Mary was the founder for what is now the St. Joseph Fertility Care Center. She volunteered for years at the Catholic schools her children attended, and served her parish in many ways, including providing candid advice and guidance to priests, educators and other moms. She cherished her time as a CCD teacher, especially preparing second graders for First Communion. She remained devoted to her family and her church throughout her life. Since 'there is always room for one more' in an Irish family, the Rice clan expanded to include another son sponsored from South Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. Mary is survived by these children and their spouses, John Rice (wife Nancy, children Patrick (Sarah), Michael (Morgan), Catherine, Stephen, Matthew, Theresa and Mary), Mary Hasson (husband Seamus, children Michael (Kris), Mary Kate (Richard), James, Brigid, Peter, John Paul and Patrick), Anne Rice (children Rory, Liadan, and Brendan), Joseph Rice (wife Monika, daughter Miriam), Charlie Rice (wife Rachel, children Joseph, Anneliese and Charles), Jeanne White (husband Edward, children Catherine, Thomas, Daniel, Margaret and George), Theresa Farnan (husband Michael, children Michael, Mary Rose, Jeanne, Joseph, Elizabeth, Sarah, Kathleen, James, Paul and Annie), Kathleen Rice (daughter Maggie), Ellen Rice, Patricia Doran (husband Chad, children James, Claire, Catherine and Julia), and Mung (John) Van Le (wife Lan, son Andrew), a great granddaughter Kella Hasson, a multitude of loving nieces and nephews and their children, and their beloved pets. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Charles Rice, her parents John and Mabel Mannix, and her brothers and sisters Helen Stadlbauer, William Mannix, Marjorie O'Sullivan, and Jack Mannix. A wake will be held on Sunday. The funeral will be at St. Joseph's Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana, on Monday December 5th at 10:00 a.m. with burial following at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. The family wishes to extend special thanks to all who assisted Mary through her illness especially the wonderful priests who gave her so much spiritual comfort, Fr. Henry of St Joseph Medical Center, Msgr. Terry Fisher, Fr. Chris Lapp, Msgr. Bill Schooler, and Msgr. Michael Heintz. They are incredibly grateful to Dr. Victoria Villaflor of Northwestern University Medical Center, Dr. Paul Guentert of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Dr. Jerome Skelly, and the wonderful nurses and staff at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. Arrangements are being handled by Zahoran Funeral Home.Charitable donations may be made to:St. Joseph Church225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka IN 46544

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