Martha "Marti" Mancuso

Martha "Marti" Mancuso, 85, of Chesterton, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 8, 2026, in Hobart, Indiana, surrounded by loved ones.
Marti was born on July 18, 1940, in a small town in Texas to Albert and Betty (Peters) Wetz. From her Texas roots and deep faith in God, she carried with her a strong spirit, deep resilience, and an enduring love for family that shaped every chapter of her life.
She was a devoted mother to her two children, Dale (Theresa) Dougherty of Schererville, Indiana, and Deanne (Jovo) Manojlovic of Chesterton. Marti's greatest joy was being a grandmother to her eight grandchildren, Kaitlynn (Richie) Popovich, Alex Dougherty, Brianna (Matt) Stutler, Colton Dougherty, Niko Manojlovic, David Manojlovic, Jessica Manojlovic, and Ryan Manojlovic; and a proud great-grandmother to Noah, Emilia, Eli, and Milo Popovich, and Sophia Dougherty.
She is also survived by her three brothers, Albert (Peggy) Wetz, Jim Wetz, and George Wetz; and her two sisters, Liz (Jim) Nickolyn and Sandy (Keith) Venglar. Marti was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Betty Wetz; her brother, Bob Wetz; and her sister-in-laws Linda Wetz, Kay Wetz, and Jan Wetz.
In Marti's earlier years, she devoted herself fully to her home and family, lovingly caring for her children and making their house a home. Because of the warm and welcoming spirit she created, you could often find her children and their friends hanging out on their patio or in their basement. It was a home for many of them as well. Her greatest priority was ensuring that her children were raised with God; her faith always sustained and filled her and she wanted that for her children as well. She always supported them and nurtured their talents and desires. Once her children had grown, Marti began a successful career as a real estate agent with McColly Real Estate in Chesterton, where she worked for over twenty-five years before retiring. Marti made many friends during her lifelong career with not only coworkers but also with many clients because she truly did what was best for them.
Marti embraced the role of "grandma" wholeheartedly. She could often be found cheering from the sidelines at sporting events, offering unwavering encouragement, or watching the children dig through her special candy drawer. She always had snacks on hand and snacks to send with when the grandchildren stopped by. She enjoyed spoiling them with love. In later years she was often imploring them for their technical expertise for "faulty" electrical devices, be it computers, remote controls, or televisions. One thing is for sure-she always loved her grandchildren unconditionally.
Outside of work, Marti found joy in life's simple pleasures. She loved traveling, especially trips back to Texas to visit family, though she preferred to keep her feet on the ground rather than fly. She was an avid reader who would "devour" books, enjoyed going to garage sales, and loved watching Blue Bloods, Westerns, and especially Walker, Texas Ranger. She could often be talked into a good game of Sequence or Uno and enjoyed playing Solitaire. She loved when her children or grandchildren would call and share their day with her; she was especially elated when they stopped by. Above all else, Marti cherished time spent with her family who remained the center of her world.
Marti will always be known for her determination, courage and strength. Even through her four battles with cancer, she trusted in God and was a true testament to resilience and an unwavering fighting spirit. She was filled with a light and love that defied her age and her circumstances. She spent a lifetime giving to others and she will be loved and missed always until her family is reunited. May her memory be eternal!
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Edmonds and Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton. A rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m., just prior to the conclusion of visitation.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Saint Paul Catholic Church, 1855 W. Harrison Boulevard, Valparaiso, with Father Douglas Mayer officiating. Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery in Chesterton.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.ee-fh.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Martha "Marti" Mancuso, please visit our floral store.