Mary Helen Cortner, 96, of Fort Wayne, Indiana died Monday, April 27, 2026, at Byron Wellness Community in Fort Wayne.

She was born June 12, 1929, in Blue Ridge, West Virginia to Estill L. and Allie (Pruitt) Rash.

On March 8, 1980, at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, she married Delbert Lee Cortner, Sr. He survives in Fort Wayne.

She had worked as the manager at Azar’s Restaurant and had also worked in the kitchen at Parkview Hospital.

She was a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church in Fort Wayne.

Mary and Delbert called many places home, remodeling houses where they lived. She found simple joy in painting her house, treating each project as both a labor of love and a creative outlet. They had lived in Winchester, Saratoga, Kendallville, Rome City, and Fort Wayne.

Also surviving are a son, Ron Bell of Fort Wayne; four stepchildren, Deborah (Pat) Seidl of Anchorage, Alaska, David (Vickie) Cortner of Eaton, Ohio, Dee (Karen) Cortner of New Paris, Ohio, and Dawn Cortner (Steve) McCord of Fort Wayne; two grandchildren; 11 step grandchildren; and two brothers, Tom Rash of Fort Wayne and Kenny Rash of South Bend.

She was preceded in death by a son, Mac’s Bell and several siblings.

There will be no visitation or funeral service.

Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Wolcottville.

Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel, 222 South State Street, Kendallville is assisting the family with arrangements.

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