Ausrele Mary Guckel

Ausrele (Mary) Guckel passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at Meriter Hospital in Madison at the age of 73.   She was born August 10, 1935 in Kaunas, Lithuania, the daughter of Pijus and Angele Venclova.   She left Lithuania with her family and emigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago as a part of the Lithuanian community there in 1950.   Mary married Henry Guckel on December 30, 1961 in Urbana, IL while she was completing her studies in German at the University of Illinois.   She taught German at the University of Missouri and the University of Wisconsin, and taught German to children through the Max Kade Institute in Madison.   Mary enjoyed cooking, reading mystery novels, gardening, and opera.   She was preceded in death by both her parents and by her husband.   She is survived by her son, Erik, her daughter in law, Efimia (Fay), and two grandchildren, Alexandra and Christina.    A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 2 pm at the Lithuanian World Center, 14911 W 127th Street, in Lemont, IL.   In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a charitable donation to Saulute, 414 Freehauf, Lemont, IL 60439 or a memorial to the University of Wisconsin Foundation -- Guckel Memorial Scholarship, P.O. Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI   53278.   Cress Funeral & Cremation Service