Victoria Wacek

Victoria Celemin Wacek died Oct. 14 at the Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. Better known to family, friends, and colleagues as “Y” or “Dr. Y,” she was born in 1942 in Mindanao, Philippines in the mountains during the war after the town in which her family lived was overrun. She grew up in the town of Aloran eventually attending Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila earning a degree in Chemical Engineering. From there she went to the University of New Hampshire earning a Master’s degree in Inorganic Chemistry followed by employment at the Merck Company in New Jersey and at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. In 1969 she married Tom Wacek and became a stay-at-home mother over the next 20 years. Then she earned a teaching degree and eventually an Ed.D. at the University of Missouri in Educational Leadership, which led to teaching and administrative positions, including finally at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis and Lafayette. She is survived by her husband, Tom, and their four children, Eddy, Bart, Wikolia, and Leewaiwai as well as eight grandchildren - Adam, Brad, Cason, Tommy, Henry, Jack, Catherine, and William. She is also survived by three siblings – Filomeno, Martin and Libertad of Las Vegas. Y will be remembered by family, friends, and colleagues for her generosity of time and kindness - and for her love of people, travel, math, and good humor…but mostly for her kindness. A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary Cathedral, 1212 South St., Lafayette, IN 47904 at 10:30 on Wednesday Oct. 19 with a visitation at the church one hour prior to the mass, Fr. Jeff Martin officiating. In lieu of any flowers or gifts, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity in memory of Y. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home, Lafayette, is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com

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