Mary Fusting ("Baby Hammer") died peacefully Saturday, August 20, 2022.

Mary Janice Hammer was born on April 30, 1940, in Louisville, Ky.  She was a graduate of Loretto High School and Spalding College.  During this timeframe she met the love of her life, Daniel Fusting, and they were married May 9, 1959.  As her children grew into their teen years Mary and Dan were inspired to create the Saint Raphael Youth Group in 1974.  Mary continued her youth ministry service beyond her children's teenage years, creating and running programs that were recognized across the Archdiocese and awarded at the national level.  In time she found her next calling to be serving as Pastoral Associate at Saint Bernard Catholic Church.  She also dedicated her talents to programs such as Insights and organizations such as Wayside Christian Mission and Family Community Clinic.  Altogether, Mary dedicated more than forty years to community and spiritual ministries.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Daniel R. Fusting Sr; her parents, Joseph Aloysius Hammer and Sarah Elizabeth (Stover) Hammer; her sisters, Doris (Hammer) Hite and Rita (Hammer) Folsom, and her brother, Joseph A. Hammer Jr.  She is survived by her five children, Daniel Fusting Jr (Lori), David Fusting (Carolyn), Deborah Tross, Darlene Stockton (Wayne), and Diane Robinson (Clay); sixteen grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sisters, JoAnn (Hammer) Testa and Elizabeth (Hammer) Testa, both of Parlin, New Jersey.

Visitation will be from 3:00pm to 8:00pm Thursday, August 25, 2022 , at Fern Creek Funeral Home, 5406 Bardstown Rd, Louisville Ky.  Funeral services will be held 10:00am Friday, August 26, 2022 , at Saint Bernard Catholic Church, 7500 Tangelo Rd, Louisville, Ky, with burial following at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Wayside Christian Mission or Family Community Clinic, organizations that Mary was so passionate about.

It's Twilight Time…