Carol Marie (Vanderbosch) Chamberlin

Last Thursday evening, Carol Chamberlin was surrounded in her home by her six children, as they all prayed together for an end to her suffering. Early the next morning on September 23, 2022, everyone’s prayers were answered as Carol peacefully began her new life of no pain and eternal joy.

Born in Mishawaka in 1932, Carol spent most of her childhood years living right next door to the home where she spent the last sixty-one years of her life. She enjoyed many hours playing in Battell Park right across the street – the same park where she later pushed her own children and grandchildren on the swings.

Carol’s faith was a central part of her life from the very start. She was baptized and made her first communion at St. Monica Catholic church, where she also attended elementary school. She graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1950, and in 1951 she married Bruce Chamberlin in St. Monica church. After spending some time in Norfolk, VA (courtesy of the Navy), the newlyweds and their growing family lived in several locations before moving into a house that Carol’s father had bought and renovated (right next door), where they both spent the rest of their lives.

After high school, Carol briefly worked as a secretary at Mishawaka High School, as well as assisting in the new Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum, housed at Mary Phillips Elementary School. Eventually, however, she discovered her true vocation: Carol dedicated her life to the challenging task of raising six children, each with differing personalities, abilities and interests. She lovingly and creatively found ways to be actively involved in each of her children’s lives – whether it involved being a den mother for cub scouts, PTA president, chairman of school festivals, bowling team coach, tennis partner, or barber for the entire family, in addition to sewing matching outfits for her daughters, planning and implementing the annual family camping odyssey, and occasionally smelling up the house with Toni Home Perm Kits!

After her children were raised, Carol transferred her parental love onto her many grand and great-grand children, while continuing to show her innate joy of caring for others by volunteering at St. Joseph Hospital of Mishawaka and also becoming the ultimate care-giver (and friend) for various elderly people who had no one else to care for them.

In her senior years, Carol continued to support her beloved St. Monica parish. Although her physical ability to actively participate diminished, she continued her prayerful and financial support, in addition to her faithful trunk-loads of donations for the church rummage sales.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at Goethals and Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd St. in Mishawaka.  There will also be one hour of visitation prior to the 11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, September 28, 2022,  at St. Monica Catholic Church, 222 W. Mishawaka Avenue, Mishawaka, Indiana.  Carol will be laid to rest beside her husband Bruce in Fairview Cemetery following funeral services.

Carol will have her funeral mass in the same special place where she was baptized, as she is reunited with her husband Bruce, infant daughter, Kathleen Ann, and the following family members who await her in Heaven: parents Edward and Florence (Poehlman) Vanderbosch, brother James Vanderbosch, and sister Dorothy Lindzy. Carol is survived by her six children: Janice Chamberlin (Doug Mohlke), Laura (Cary) Kuminecz, Sallie (Kirk) Janowiak, Edward (Kim) Chamberlin, Steve (Jill) Chamberlin, and Maria (Paul) Kil, as well as her sixteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Surviving as well are her sisters Shirley D’Haenans and Ruth Huyvaert.

Donations can be made to the following organizations: The Chamberlin, Hull, Hummer and Snider Memorial Scholarship Fund Katie and Kyle Chamberlin - Community Foundation of St. Joseph County online at https://cfsjc.org/donor-stories/katie-and-kyle-chamberlin or The Center for Hospice Care  at http://foundationforhospice.org/donate/ . To light a virtual candle, share a story of Carol’s life, or leave a message of comfort for her family, please follow the links provided on the tribute wall tab above.