MARLENE CALLAHAN LAKER
Marlene Callahan Laker, 86 years old, passed away on Friday, July 9, 2021. Born and raised in St. Leon, Marlene graduated from Guilford High School in 1952. She and her late husband, Robert, moved to Indianapolis where they raised four children, David, Dale, Maureen and Daryl. Marlene loved God and the church and after leaving St. Joseph’s in St. Leon, became a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Beech Grove. Marlene gave of herself on a daily basis. Whether she was donating to her favorite charities or going out of her way to help others, she was always thinking of those around her. Marlene was very involved with her family and loved to dote on her grandchildren and especially enjoyed watching them play softball and soccer games.
Playing euchre with friends was a favorite pastime of Marlene’s, and she continued to play with her children until just recently. She loved to sit on her front porch where she would read the newspaper from cover to cover, complete all the puzzles she found inside, and play solitaire. Marlene, although a good cook, loved to go out to eat. Ponderosa was her favorite. It became a meeting spot for her family as her daughter worked there and her son loved to surprise her when she was with her friends. For her birthday or Christmas, all she wanted was gift cards so she could go out to eat. But, if she didn’t have a gift card, it didn’t matter. Marlene always wanted to pay for everyone. Never owning a credit card, she would pay in cash or use the $10 in change she constantly carried in her purse. Her children would tease her about how much change she carried in her purse and how heavy it would become. But she had everything you could ever need in that purse, nail files, tissues, medicine, you name it, she had it. Marlene was sentimental and kept every recipe, greeting card and religious item because they all meant something special to her.
Marlene will be dearly missed by her children David (Dorothy) Laker of Indianapolis, Maureen Laker of Beech Grove, and Daryl (Gail) Laker of Shelbyville, sister-in-law Anna Mae Callahan, daughter-in-law Angela Laker, 12 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and many friends. Marlene is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Laker, twin brother Jim Callahan, younger brother Dennis Callahan, son Dale Laker, grandson Terry James Laker, and parents Madeline and Maurice Callahan.
Visitation for Marlene will be on Tuesday, July 13, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home at 25615 State Rt. 1, Guilford, IN 47022. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Campus All Saints Parish, at 7536 Church Lane, W. Harrison, IN 47060 with Father Daniel Mahan presiding. For those not able to attend, mass will be lived streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Burial will immediately follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery, 1207 E Rd, Brookville, IN 47012. Memorials can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Donations will be accepted at the visitation or can be mailed directly to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home. Please visit www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com to sign the online guest book or offer condolences.