Obituary for Mary Julianna Vise (Orth)
Mary (Marika) Julia Csilla Orth Vise was born in Nagyvarad, Hungary on February 19, 1942. As a very young child, Mary and her parents and siblings were forced to flee their country in WWII because of approaching Soviet troops, and Mary’s father, Victor Orth, was a minister and was in immediate danger from the Soviets. After the war, the family spent four years in a displaced persons refugee camp in Germany. Eventually the family emigrated to Canada, living there for 10 years before moving to the United States.
Mary completed high school in Niles Ohio; attended college at the School of the Ozarks near Branson Missouri, then Drury college in Springfield Missouri, earning a bachelor’s degree in Education. Mary met her husband, Jim Vise, at the School of the Ozarks, via being introduced by Jim’s brother, Sidney, who taught at the School. Mary and Jim were married at the School of the Ozarks’ Campus Chapel in 1964.
Mary and Jim moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1968 for Jim’s new job in Urban Planning. Their son, Steven, was born in 1968; and their daughter, Allison was born in 1971. She started working as a teacher for JCPS in 1977, and earned her M.A. in Education from the University of Louisville in 1979. Mary continued her teaching career, focusing on Special Education, until her retirement in 2004 after 27 years of service. She touched countless lives as an educator, and was loved by her students.
Mary was a wonderful caring mother for Steven and Allison, while working full time as a teacher. She loved music in many forms, including classical, and tirelessly brought her son Steven to violin and piano music lessons over many years. She also loved dancing, an inherent part of her Hungarian culture, and shared a love of singing with her husband Jim. They particularly enjoyed performing choral music together in the St. Paul UMC Choir, as well as in the “Motet Singers.” Mary was also a talented poet, who frequently wrote spiritual poetry to provide inspiration for facing life’s difficulties.
The poetry helped to give Mary strength in the face of her many health challenges, including her Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2001 and colon cancer in 2002, which required major colon surgery that led to ongoing digestive issues. Despite the obstacles and setbacks, she always remained a positive, determined person who was admired and loved by her extended family and friends as an inspiration. The support from these family and friends was invaluable to her as she faced her difficult Parkinson’s journey, and she was a fighter until the end.
Mary is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, James C. Vise; her loving children, Steven C. Vise and Allison Vise; her daughter-in-law, Shannon Holman; her granddaughters, Sophie Vise Holman and Sara Vise Holman, who affectionately called her “Granny”; her siblings, Ildiko Falkenhayn (husband, Ed Falkenhayn), Martha Novak (husband Nick Novak); Dr. Lee Orth (wife, MaryJane Orth); Victor E.J. Orth; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her parents, Rev. Victor J. Orth and Jolan Orth.
Visitation will be Saturday January 28th from 12:00 - 2:00 pm, with her funeral service at 2:00 pm at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road.
To make expressions of sympathy for Mary, please support the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation (michaeljfox.org).
Mary completed high school in Niles Ohio; attended college at the School of the Ozarks near Branson Missouri, then Drury college in Springfield Missouri, earning a bachelor’s degree in Education. Mary met her husband, Jim Vise, at the School of the Ozarks, via being introduced by Jim’s brother, Sidney, who taught at the School. Mary and Jim were married at the School of the Ozarks’ Campus Chapel in 1964.
Mary and Jim moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1968 for Jim’s new job in Urban Planning. Their son, Steven, was born in 1968; and their daughter, Allison was born in 1971. She started working as a teacher for JCPS in 1977, and earned her M.A. in Education from the University of Louisville in 1979. Mary continued her teaching career, focusing on Special Education, until her retirement in 2004 after 27 years of service. She touched countless lives as an educator, and was loved by her students.
Mary was a wonderful caring mother for Steven and Allison, while working full time as a teacher. She loved music in many forms, including classical, and tirelessly brought her son Steven to violin and piano music lessons over many years. She also loved dancing, an inherent part of her Hungarian culture, and shared a love of singing with her husband Jim. They particularly enjoyed performing choral music together in the St. Paul UMC Choir, as well as in the “Motet Singers.” Mary was also a talented poet, who frequently wrote spiritual poetry to provide inspiration for facing life’s difficulties.
The poetry helped to give Mary strength in the face of her many health challenges, including her Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2001 and colon cancer in 2002, which required major colon surgery that led to ongoing digestive issues. Despite the obstacles and setbacks, she always remained a positive, determined person who was admired and loved by her extended family and friends as an inspiration. The support from these family and friends was invaluable to her as she faced her difficult Parkinson’s journey, and she was a fighter until the end.
Mary is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, James C. Vise; her loving children, Steven C. Vise and Allison Vise; her daughter-in-law, Shannon Holman; her granddaughters, Sophie Vise Holman and Sara Vise Holman, who affectionately called her “Granny”; her siblings, Ildiko Falkenhayn (husband, Ed Falkenhayn), Martha Novak (husband Nick Novak); Dr. Lee Orth (wife, MaryJane Orth); Victor E.J. Orth; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her parents, Rev. Victor J. Orth and Jolan Orth.
Visitation will be Saturday January 28th from 12:00 - 2:00 pm, with her funeral service at 2:00 pm at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Road.
To make expressions of sympathy for Mary, please support the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation (michaeljfox.org).