LAPORTE COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE

HEROES FOR LIFE

Maria Pedulla -2019
Fr. Theodore Mens - 2016
Monica Kelsey - 2018

LaPorte County Right to Life Hero for Life Awards

We honor your work, your heart, your dedication, your time, your service.

2019 LAPORTE COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE HERO FOR LIFE AWARD

Maria Pedulla

Maria Pedulla has devoted her life to education for the sake of bringing people closer to God. Raised by Irish-American parents and taught by predominantly Irish Catholic nuns and priests, she had a hunger for religious education that compelled her to return to school in her 40’s, after raising her children, to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Fordham University, Bronx, NY, in 1985. From there, she continued on, earning a Master’s degree in Religious Education from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY a few years later. Throughout her life, she was involved in pro-life causes, from mother-baby bonding in La Leche League, which she founded in Westchester County, NY in the 1960’s, to parish groups, crisis pregnancy centers, civil protests at abortion clinics, and many other similar activities. Since her move to Indiana in 2001, she has been involved in numerous parish ministries throughout the Diocese of Gary, working as a volunteer nearly daily for the good of others. Maria, whose husband Dr. Joseph Pedulla passed away in 2011, is the proud mother of 4, grandmother of 20, and great-grandmother of 8.

The LaPorte County Right to Life is honored to recognize Maria with our Hero for Life Award. This award is given to persons who have lived and taught that each individual is an unrepeatable gift from God from conception to natural death. Our sincere thanks go out to you Maria for your tireless self-giving to those in our community!

2019 – Mrs. Maria Pedulla, Life Advocate Extraordinaire

2018 – Monica Kelsey, Safe Haven Baby Box Founder

2016 – Fr. Theodore Mens, Pro-Life Director, Diocese of Gary

2016 – Dave Kolar, Local Dedicated Hero for Life

2015 – Mrs. Kathy Ratkiewicz, Michiana Down Syndrome

2013 – Jan Edquist, Hospice Nurse Extraordinary Care!

2012 – Dianne Carpenter, Life Volunteer

2010 – Ed Merrion, Life Defender with Catholic Charities

2009 – Mary Margaret Hathoot, Memorial, Audiologist

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