Margaretha Paulina Motes nee Hladek, age 97, of Merrillville, Indiana and formerly of Hammond, Indiana and Uvalde, Texas, passed away Sunday, October 8, 2017. Born in East Chicago, Indiana on July 6, 1920 to the late Andrew and Paula Hladek. Margaretha proudly served her country for two years during WWII in the U.S Marine Corps and earned the rank of Corporal. She was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina at the Hostess House as a Book Keeper. During this time, she met and married another marine, her late husband, William Jackson Motes. In her youth, Margaretha modeled for five years in Chicago, one of the studios being Vera Jane Studio. She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and was very active in Altar and Rosary Society as well serving as past president and Chairmen of many committees. She was also a member of the American Legion Post 369, First Catholic Ladies Slovak Association and Our Lady of Grace Crafters for 30 years. For many years she was the Tiger mascot for the Hammond Tech Float that appeared in parades throughout Northwest Indiana. Margaretha was a resident of Towne Centre Retirement Community of Merrillville, Indiana where she enjoyed playing bingo and sharing many of her childhood stories. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and aunt. She will truly be missed by all who knew and loved her. She leaves to cherish her memory, three children: Peggy (Joseph) McBride, William (Vickey) Motes, Timothy (Lyn) Motes; grandchildren: Julie (Frank) Southfield, Laura (Tony) Crisp, Kathleen (David) Bunting, Jack (Samantha) Gebhart, Ian Motes, Rachel (Neil) Burkdoll, Samantha Motes, Jason (Kristen) Malone, Trazy (Wayne) Howard; great-grandchildren: Allison, Amanda, Courtney, Audrey, Ava, Isla, Cordelia, Cecilia, Chloe, Makagan; sister, Elsie Palikan; sister-in-law, Aggie Hladek. Preceded in death by her husband, parents, two daughters: Rebecca Ann Motes, Monica Louise Motes; sisters: Agnes Smalley, Victoria Jones, Esther Pukac, Lorraine Gibson; brother, Larry Hladek. Funeral Services will take place on Friday, October 13, 2017 with Prayers at LaHAYNE FUNERAL HOME , 6955 Southeastern Avenue, Hammond, Indiana at 9:15 AM to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 7132 Arizona Avenue, Hammond, Indiana for Mass at 10:00 AM with Reverend Charles A. Mosley, Pastor officiating. Friends are invited to visit with the family on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at LaHAYNE FUNERAL HOME from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The family has designated the Motes and McBride Family Scholarship (allocation #016829) in Purdue's College of Education for memorial contributions in honor of Marge Motes. Please make donations payable to Purdue Foundation and mail to Purdue Foundation, 403 West Wood Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907. To make a memorial gift online, visit: www.Giving.Purdue.edu/InMemoryOfMargeMotes. Memorials may also be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 7132 Arizona Avenue, Hammond, Indiana. For more information please call 219/ 845-3600.