Mary Kathryn "Doc" Dunford (née Thegze) age 71, originally of Hammond, IN, passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 from her home in Richmond, TX. She is survived by her husband, James B Dunford; her daughter, Lisa Dunford Dickman and son-in-law Billy Dickman; her daughter, Kathryn Ann Showalter; her son-in-law, Brett Showalter; and her granddaughters, Abby and Bryn Showalter; her brother, George William (Bill) Thegze; her brother, Robert "Bob" Thegze; her brother, Thomas "Tom" Thegze; her sister-in-law, Tracy Thegze; and her niece, Samantha Thegze. She is preceded in death by her parents George Thegze and Kathryn Kain Thegze.  Mary Kathryn graduated from Loyola University with a BS in Nursing in 1967. She worked at Cook County Hospital and elsewhere before staying home to dedicate herself to her two daughters. The family lived in Winnetka, IL; Maplewood, NJ; Bloomfield Hills, MI; Plano, TX; and Lutherville, MD while the girls were growing up. Later, Mary Kathryn began her 22-year managed healthcare career with Prudential and continued with Aetna, which moved her and her retired husband to the Houston area. She retired from Aetna in 2015, as a respected and beloved Director of Patient Services for the SE Region. During her all-too-short retirement, Mary Kathryn and her husband enjoyed driving trips in the desert southwest. Her two granddaughters, Abby and Bryn, were the absolute light of her life.

A Funeral Service is scheduled for 12:00 noon, Thursday, April 6 at St Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, 8103 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321; the Very Rev. Steven Koplinka will officiate. Mary will lie in state from 11:30 AM until time of service. She will be laid to rest at St. Nicholas Cemetery in Hammond, IN. A visitation will be held at Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home , 14 Kennedy Ave., Schererville, IN, 46375 (corner of Kennedy and Main St.) on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, from 3 to 7pm, with the Parastas at 4pm. Memorial contributions may be made at http://honor.americanheart.org/goto/MaryKathrynDunford .