Mary "Malena" (Medina) Roman

Maria Magdalena “Malena” Roman (Medina) passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at her home in Schererville, Indiana. Malena was born at home in Indiana Harbor, East Chicago, Indiana, on the evening of July 22, 1937, to Antonio Medina and Maria de Jesus Reyes and was the youngest of four siblings. She was preceded in death by both her parents, sisters, Josephina “Josie” Espitia (Josafat) and Maria Engracia “Grace” Olguin (Miguel). Malena is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Sergio Roman. She is also survived by her brother Edward Medina (Aurora) of Indianapolis. She was a loving aunt to many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews living from coast to coast and Mexico.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 13, 2020 at 9:15 am at the FIFE FUNERAL HOME, 4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, IN and 10:00 am Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 3510 Deodar Street, East Chicago, IN with Rev. Carlos Sosa officiating.  Burial to follow at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Gary, IN.  Visitation at the FIFE FUNERAL HOME will be from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Malena was a 1955 graduate of Bishop Noll High School and worked for Inland Steel Company at the downtown office as a program systems analyst from where she retired from in 1993.

Maria Magdalena was also lovingly known as Mary, Malena, Maggie, Aunt Malena, Tia Mary, and Aunt Banana. She always reminded us that she was “the baby of the family.” She was an expert at putting together a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle in less than one day, made it a tradition always to eat the icing flower from a birthday cake, getting from one side of Chicago to the other better than any taxi cab driver, and had the best voice in the church choir. Malena loved the arts, including the opera, and the museums. She lived a happy life with no regrets. While she was not a biological mom, she fed and mothered many who chose to live with her during certain times in their young adult lives.

She will be remembered for her sense of humor, sharp sense of style, love of travel, and, more importantly, the individual love she shared with her family and friends. To share an online condolence, logon to www.fifefuneralhome.com

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