Edith A. Avery, 76, of Syracuse, Ind., passed away at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, at her home.

She was born on Aug. 22, 1936, in LaGrange, Ind., to Moses E. and Goldie F. (Miller) Mast. She lived all of her life in Elkhart and Kosciusko counties, permanently moving to Syracuse in 1952 from Millersburg, Ind.

She attended Millersburg public schools and was married on Aug. 25, 1954, in Syracuse to Owen D. Avery who preceded her on Dec. 7, 1986. She was a homemaker and retired from the Wawasee Community School Corporation as a custodian at Wawasee High School after 15 ½ years.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 223 & V.F.W. Auxiliary Post 1382 both in Syracuse. She attended the New Salem Church of the Brethren and formerly attended the Church of the Brethren in Syracuse.

Edith is survived by two daughters: Sharon (Dewayne) Lemler, Nappanee, Ind.; Esther (Gary) Fisher, Leesburg, Ind.; three step-sons: Frederick (Eleanor) Avery, Plymouth, Ind.; Jimmie (Crystal) Avery, Syracuse; and Allen (Carol) Avery, Syracuse; 24 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters; three sisters: Lillian (Randy) Oakes, Elkhart; Evelyn (Karl) Penndrill, Celina, Texas; and Irma Yakim, Syracuse; two brothers: LeRoy Mast, Ligonier, Ind.; and Alvin (Cheryl) Mast, Frostproof, Fla.

She was preceded by her parents; husband; three sons: Ivan, Charles and David Avery; a grandson: Deric Lemler; a granddaughter: Jessica Rodriguez; a great- grandson: Gideon Rodriguez; a step-grandson: Tim Swango; four sisters: Viola Holmes, Ella Warren, Dorothy Blackport and Mary DeFreese; and five brothers: Tobias, Perry, Eli, Lloyd and Allen Mast.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at  Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the funeral home with Pastor Dean Kagarise of the church officiating. Burial will follow in Syracuse Cemetery.

Memorial bequest may be given to Heartland Hospice, 826 W Edison Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545 or American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 13067, Alexandria, VA 22312.