Mary Jane Patzel

Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Jane Patzel, 87, Lawrence, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Inurnment will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Fairview Cemetery in Smith Center.Mrs. Patzel died Sunday, April 13, 2008, at Medicalodges of Eudora.She was born Nov. 2, 1920, in Topeka, the daughter of Joseph and Jennifer Scott Briar. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1939 and attended Strickler’s Business College in Topeka. Mrs. Patzel was recognized in North Central Kansas for her work and accomplishments for the handicapped. She helped organize the North Central Kansas Association for Retarded Citizens and established a day care center school for the handicapped through the Local Association for Retarded Citizens without the use of public funds. She was chosen as First Lady of the Year by the Kappa Xi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. She was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence.She married John J. Patzel on Nov. 7, 1943, in Topeka. He died in 1986. Mrs. Patzel also was preceded in death by a son, James Dennis, in 1963.Survivors include a daughter, Mary Margaret Barnes and husband Rod, Lawrence; four sons, John Jefferson and wife Julie, Topeka, Joseph James and wife Vickie, Wichita, Jerome Christopher and wife Linda, Salem, Ore., and Michael Jay and wife Irma, Seattle; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Smith Center.The family suggests memorials to Development Disabilities of Kansas, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, Lawrence.Online condolences may be sent at www.warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Patzel.