Anne Shellabarger Abbott age 89 of 2002 Andrew Avenue, La Porte, IN, passed away Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Miller's Merry Manor in La Porte.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 12 noon (CST), Saturday, December 12, 2015 at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 2900 Monroe St., La Porte, with Rev. Sally Wicks officiating. A visitation will be held on Saturday from 10 am (CST) until the time of service at the funeral home. A cremation committal has taken place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center. A private family burial will be held Saturday at Pine Lake Cemetery in La Porte.
Mrs. Abbott was born July 24, 1926, in Salina, KS, to William L. and Maud D. Shellabarger. She was married June 18, 1949, in Decatur, IL, to Ira R. Abbott, Jr. who preceded her in death on March 16, 2006.
Surviving are four sons, Dr. Ira "Rick" (Lainy Luckadoo) Abbott, III of Scarsdale, NY, James “Jim” Sterrett (Kathleen Goad) Abbott of Irons, MI, William "Bill" Shellabarger Abbott of Orlando, FL, and Christopher “Chris” Mark Abbott of Los Angeles, CA; daughter, Kathryn “Kathy” Anne (John) Lobato of Larkspur, CO; six grandsons, Andrew Abbott of Chicago, IL, I. Richmond (Tenille) Abbott of Wandal QLD, Australia, Matthew (Holly) Abbott of Ann Arbor, MI, John (Jennifer) Abbott of Rye, NY, Joshua Lobato of Larkspur, CO, Blake Lobato of Larkspur, CO; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mary D. Cleave of Decatur, IL and Helen A. Clark of Bellevue, WA.
Mrs. Abbott is a 1944 graduate of Dana Hall School, Wellesley, MA and attended the University of Illinois, School of Architecture from 1945-1948.
From 1970 - 1982, Mrs. Abbott was quite involved with the Northern Indiana Girls Scouts, including serving as a Northern Indiana Council board member and troop leader. She also took a group of scouts on tour of Europe in 1975. She was active in the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR) both in Decatur, IL, and La Porte, IN. She participated in Questers in La Porte, and also enjoyed studying the genealogy of her family.
Mrs. Abbott loved to travel. She and her husband, Ira, were experienced travelers and enjoyed exploring out-of-the-way places in South and North America, East and Western Europe, Northern Africa, and the Far East. Many times their touring was by bicycle or hiking. She experienced many different cultures and cuisines and enjoyed preparing for the trips almost as much as the travels themselves. This often included months of language study so that they could be immersed in the culture of the trip. Her passion was so great that it created a legacy amongst her children, and grandchildren, who enjoy the same today.
She loved the outdoors. In her early years of marriage, with five young children, summer vacations included several weeks camping in the Midwest north woods or the Rocky Mountains. A fond memory of her children is Mom, early in the morning, standing by a camp stove cooking a hot breakfast for her family. Later in life, she replaced camping with many visits to their cabin in southwestern Colorado. She and Ira loved the hiking, exploring the archaeological sites of the southwestern American Indians, and the tranquility and beauty of the Rocky Mountains. She especially loved to share these experiences with her children and grandchildren. Yes, her greatest attribute was her adventurous spirit and love of her family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 50 E. 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46209-4830 or The Presbyterian Church of La Porte, 307 Kingsbury Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350.
Friends may sign the register book on line at www.cutlerfuneral.com.