Marian Krajewska Bates

Marian Krajewska Bates, 81, of Bloomington died Friday, July 25, 2014 in I.U. Health, Methodist Hospital. She was born June 12, 1933 in Camden, NJ to Stephen Krajewski and Sophia Grzeskowiak Krajewski.

Marian was a devoted mother, wife and friend. Survivors include a son, Stephen Earl Bates and his wife Ana Cainelli Bates of Vienna, VA; a daughter, Adrienne Brown and her husband Steven of Greenwood; five grandchildren, Avery, Allison and Julian Brown, Sienna Bates and Samantha Paramore; two great grandchildren, Bijou and Remy Paramore; a very dear friend, Sr. Laurette Bellamy, S.P. of Saint Mary-of -the Woods, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Earl O. Bates; a brother, George Krajewski; and three sisters, Dorothy and Theresa Krajewski and Sherrie Lightman.

Marian enjoyed a life-long career as a singer of opera and classical vocal music. She was a professor of Voice at Drake University, Indiana University School of Music, and for 35 years at Saint Mary-of-the Woods College.

After graduation from Camden Catholic High School, Marian was accepted into the professional cast of “The King &I” with Yul Brynner and performed in a year-long tour across the country. Following the tour she entered the Juilliard School of Music in New York on scholarship. She received a double Fulbright Scholarship for further study at the Vienna Academy of Music in Austria. While a student she was engaged to perform leading opera roles in professional houses in Austria and Germany. After graduation she was engaged as the leading soprano with the Ulm and the Aachen Opera Companies in Germany.

When people are asked to characterize Marian, their response usually describes her as elegant, sophisticated, beautiful and polished and then as a woman of prayer, deep faith and a life based on her faith. To fulfill her desire to share in the mission of love, mercy, and justice of the Sisters of Providence she made her commitment as a Providence Associate in 2009.

Memberships include Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Mu Phi Epsilon, National Federation of Music Clubs, Bloomington Chamber Music Society, National Society of Arts and Letters, Friends of Art, and the Friends of Music of the I.U. Jacobs School of Music. In addition Marian along with her husband and children, and more recently Sr. Laurette, were active in welcoming international students into their home and family in conjunction with the Bloomington Worldwide Friendship Organization.

Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Saturday August 2, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. in Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 2224 East 3rd St. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, August 1, 2014 in Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home, 4150 East 3rd St., from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M.

If friends so desire, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Earl O. Bates Memorial Scholarship at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, c/o Indiana University Foundation, P.O. Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206, or to Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods Mission Advancement Office, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.

Online condolences may be given at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com