Mary Ilidia Marques, 97, of Elkhart, died Saturday March 24, 2018 at BellTower Health & Rehabilitation Center. Fondly known as Lydia to family & friends, she was born May 27, 1920 in Bristol, RI to Manuel & Maria (Graca) Costa. On May 27, 1939, she married Alfredo R. Marques in Lisbon, Portugal. He preceded her in death on July 14, 1999 after 60 years of marriage. She was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and had retired from Uniroyal after 32 years of service. Lydia was loved, respected & admired; she was known as a religious woman of strength & kindness. She often said "Be kind, trust in God, love one another and family is everything." Of those beliefs, her family always took priority; she enjoyed sharing her life story with all who came to know & love her. In addition to her parents and her husband Alfred, she was also preceded in death by one of her sons, Victor Marques. Lydia is survived by her son, Al (Carol) Marques of Mishawaka; daughter-in-law, Suzanne Marques of Elkhart; grandchildren to include Patrick (Amy) Marques of Colorado Springs CO, Michelle (Michael) Kosner of Chicago IL, Ryan (Jobrina) Marques of Indianapolis and Tammela (Daryl) McMullen of Irvine CA; her sister, Irene Cabrel in Portugal and 20 great-grandchildren. Prayers 10:00 Tuesday morning, April 3, 2018 in Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Hwy. Mass of Christian Burial follows at 10:30 Tuesday in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main Street, Elkhart. Friends may call Monday from 5-8pm in the funeral home. Entombment in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family's preferred memorial is St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. "We love you Mom. You will be in our hearts forever. May God bless you." To share a remembrance of Lydia or to offer condolences to her family, please visit www.chapelhillmemorial.com.