Mary E. (Szalay) Horvath

Mary Elizabeth Horvath passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at St. Joseph Medical Center, surrounded by her family’s love.  Born on June 6, 1952, to Paul and Christine (Wieger) Szalay, Mary was the youngest of three daughters. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Kathleen Scheu and Paulette Szalay. On October 12, 1974, she married the love of her life, David J. Horvath. Together they raised their son, Josef, who survives along with David. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rick and Dianne Horvath, and by her best companion, her beloved dog, Cooper.

Mary devoted her professional life to Special Education, serving for 39 years at Mishawaka High School. She gave everything to her students, believing deeply in their ability to grow and succeed.  Colleagues admired her as meticulous, strong-willed, and unwavering in her dedication. Her students knew that in her classroom there were no excuses, learning happened.  Outside of the classroom, Mary found joy in her garden, where her green thumb produced beautiful flowers each season. She loved to cook traditional Hungarian meals and desserts, passing on her heritage through flavors and traditions. She also enjoyed traveling whenever the opportunity arose. At home, Mary was known for her wit, her warmth, and her competitive spirit. She was a kind and funny woman, but if you truly wanted to see her shine, you had to play a game of Euchre with her, where her cutthroat style was legendary.  Faith was also central to Mary’s life. She served her parish, St. Matthew Cathedral, as both a Eucharistic Minister and Reader, giving back to the community she loved.

Visitation will take place on Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 Kemble Avenue, with a Rosary to be recited at 4:30p.m. Additional visitation will be held on Monday beginning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew Cathedral, 1701 Miami Street, South Bend, IN 46613. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m.  Online condolence may be sent at www.zahoran.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary E. (Szalay) Horvath, please visit our floral store.