Mary Lou Axelberg

Mary Lou (Taylor) Axelberg, 92, of South Bend passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, November 24, 2025.

Lou was born on January 18, 1933, in Burnt Prairie, Illinois to the late Jesse and Nora (Mayberry) Taylor.

She graduated from Anderson (Indiana) Sr. High School in 1949 and attended Franklin College, where she received a bachelor's degree in music education in 1953.

Shortly after arriving on the Franklin campus, she met James Axelberg at a freshman mixer. They were together through four years of college and married on June 20, 1953, sharing 55 years of marriage until Jim's passing in 2009. She is survived by their two children, Beth (Craig) McCoy and John Axelberg, and their granddaughter, Emily Axelberg.

Lou was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church for over 60 years, where she formed close, lifelong friendships as an office volunteer and as an alto in the church's extraordinary choir. Prior to John's birth, Lou was a beloved fourth-grade teacher at Beiger Elementary School in Mishawaka. Her passion for working with children continued at the church, first as director of the children's choir, and later with Rocking Chair Reading Time.

Lou was also active in numerous community organizations and touched many lives through her work with Junior League of South Bend.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Monday December 1, at Grace United Methodist Church, 3012 S. Twyckenham Dr. South Bend. A funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. A private burial will follow later at Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church.

Online condolences to the family may be sent via the Palmer Funeral Homes website at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com