Obituaries

Dec 11, 2015

Donna M. Leniski, 86, of Mishawaka, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday evening, December 11, 2015.

Donna was born October 11, 1929 in Mishawaka, a daughter of the late Donald and Marie (Ramsey) Hirsch. She was a 1947 graduate of Mishawaka High School and lived her entire life in Mishawaka.

On February 24,...

Nov 26, 2015

Geraldine “Sherry” Chrzanowski, 85, of South Bend, passed away Thursday evening, November 26, 2015, in Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw.

Sherry was born July 11, 1930 in South Bend, a daughter of the late David and Lottie (Zmudzynski) Arpasi. She was a graduate of Washington High School. On November 19, 1966 she married Eugene “Gene” J. Chrzanowski.

Nov 25, 2015

John Elmer Phillips, 73, of Mishawaka, passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2015, in his home.

John was born May 15, 1942 in Mishawaka, a son of the late Charles and Ada (Oleck) Phillips. He spent most of his life in Mishawaka but did live for 21 years in Las Vegas.

John was employed for nearly...

Nov 21, 2015

Sara Witt, 93, of South Bend, passed away Saturday afternoon, November 21, 2015, in the Sanctuary at St. Paul’s.

Sara was born August 15, 1922 in LaPorte, the daughter of the late Edwin and Genevieve (Newlin) Schurz. She grew up in LaPorte and was a graduate of LaPorte High School. Sara furthered her education graduating from Columbia...

Nov 20, 2015

Willimay E. (Gist) Gray, 88, of South Bend, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday morning, November 20, 2015.

Willimay was born December 7, 1926 in South Bend, daughter of the late Willie and Dillie (Whisenhunt) Gist. She grew up in South Bend, Niles and Mishawaka and was a 1944 graduate of Mishawaka High School.

Nov 14, 2015

Darlene Ann Boyer, 62, of Lakeville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 14, 2015 in her home.

Darlene was born March 25, 1953 in South Bend, a daughter of Lawrence and Eva “Grace” (Galloway) Kiefer. She grew up in Niles and was a graduate of Brandywine High School.

On October 31, 1971, Darlene married Earl...

Nov 5, 2015

Theodore “Ted” H. Derksen, 77, passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2015 in Memorial Hospital, South Bend.

Ted was born March 12, 1938 in Mishawaka, a son of the late John and Louise (Newhouse) Derksen. He grew up and spent most of his life in Madison Township. He was a graduate of Madison Township High School.

Oct 30, 2015

Brittany Justine Jesensky, 33, of South Bend passed away Friday, October 30, 2015. She was born December 8, 1981 in South Bend.

Brittany is survived by her mother, Courtney LeBlanc; five children, Connor Wasmer, Jeffery Jesensky, Jr., Cameron Jesensky, Jada Jesensky and Chantel Jesensky; two brothers, Anthony LeBlanc and Brandon LeBlanc; grandparents, John and Judy Colpetzer and...

Oct 18, 2015

Geraldine “Gerry” M. Skevington, age 94, of Mishawaka, passed away Sunday, October 18, 2015.

Gerry was born October 27, 1920 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Zuber) Carr. She grew up in Fort Wayne.

On May 2, 1941, Gerry married John Skevington. The couple lived in Fort Wayne until...

Oct 10, 2015

US Army Major (retired) Raymond Victor Blanford, son of Joseph and Loretta Blanford, Mishawaka, Indiana cashed in his 9th life on Saturday, October 10th, 2015 and finally won, getting what he’d wanted for so many years. He was 81. Age, sickness and a desire to rest in peace finally won over the strong heart that kept beating, but the...

Oct 6, 2015

Lois Ann Claeys, 83, of Osceola, passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2015, in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Lois was born September 23, 1932 in Mishawaka. She grew up in South Bend and was a 1950 graduate of Adams High School.

On August 26, 1954, Lois married Frank J. Claeys. The couple lived most of...

Oct 6, 2015

William Thomas Scott Southwick, 70, of Mishawaka, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, October 6, 2015, in the home he loved.

“Bill” was born June 8, 1945 in Jackson, Michigan, a son of the late Alva Franklin and Dorothea (Caird) Southwick. He was a graduate of Jackson High School. Bill lived in Jackson until moving to Okemos,...

Oct 1, 2015

Alvin Wilson Lancaster, 90, of Mishawaka, passed away Thursday afternoon, October 1, 2015, in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

“Al” was born October 28, 1924 in Greensboro, North Carolina, a son of the late Boaz Walter and Flora Mae (Stevenson) Lancaster. He grew up in North Carolina and moved to Mishawaka at the age of 17. He...

Sep 25, 2015

Angela C. Bliha, 82, of Mishawaka, passed away Friday afternoon, September 25, 2015, in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Angela was born on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1933, in Mishawaka, a daughter of the late Joseph B. and Theresa K. (Hums) Ernst. She grew up in Mishawaka and was a graduate of St. Joseph Academy, South Bend....

Sep 17, 2015

Eleanor V. Fails went home to God on September 17, 2015. Eleanor was the beloved daughter of Bill and Eileen (Dillon) Fails, who preceded her in death. Eleanor was born on July 25, 1930, and grew up in Anderson, Indiana. She attended St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, graduating in 1952. That year she entered the Congregation of the...

Sep 9, 2015

Patricia Ann Hillebrand, 72, of Mishawaka, passed away suddenly Wednesday morning, September 9, 2015.

Pat was born November 28, 1942 in South Bend where she grew up and graduated from Central High School.

On May 2, 1964, Pat married Fredric J. Hillebrand in Holy Cross Catholic Church in South Bend. They lived in South Bend...

Aug 18, 2015

Pauline “Elizabeth” Scarborough, PhD, 80, of Mishawaka, passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2015, in her home following a long struggle with colon cancer.

Elizabeth was born March 30, 1935 in Ruston, Louisiana, to the late Truett L. and Helen Pauline (Olmstead) Scarborough as their first child. She was a 1952 graduate of Ruston High School and earned...

Aug 15, 2015

Mitzi (Obren) Troiola Goethals, 79, of Mishawaka, passed away Saturday evening, August 15, 2015, in Hospice House, South Bend.

Mitzi was born July 11, 1936 in South Bend, daughter of the late George and Elsie (Savich) Obren. Her father died when she was young and her mother then married Mike Kovachevich. Mitzi grew up in South Bend...

Aug 11, 2015

Genevieve C. Kalil, 92, of Mishawaka, passed away early Tuesday morning, August 11, 2015, in Hospice House, South Bend.

“Gen” was born March 15, 1923 in Peru, Illinois, a daughter of the late John and Julia (Krolski) Gapinski. She grew up in Peru, Illinois, and was a graduate of LaSalle Peru High School.

Gen married...

Aug 8, 2015

William “Bill” R. Deethardt, 86, of Mishawaka, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2015, in the Sanctuary at Holy Cross, South Bend.

Bill was born September 11, 1928 in Mishawaka, a son of the late John and Helen (Wiekamp) Deethardt. He grew up in Mishawaka and graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1946.

On May 18,...