By Staff
Suzanne M. Schmidt, 94, of Old Sycamore Court, Granger, Ind., died on Sunday, June 7, 2009, at Alden Polar Creek Rehabilitation &Heath Care Center, Hoffman Estates, Ill., of a brief illness.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 12, in Saint Anthony Catholic Church with the Rev. William Neidhart, C.S.C. of Fatima House, Notre Dame, Ind., officiating.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church.
Burial will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind.
She was born on Sept. 28, 1914, in Chicago, Ill. to Julius and Celina (Willems) VanDenAvyle and was a lifelong area resident.
A member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church, Sue also loved her home, antiquing, shopping and all her bears.
She remained a strong and determined woman, living independently until her death.
In 1935, she married Jacob Schmidt in Mishawaka, Ind. He died on June 28, 1983.
In addition, she was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Lucille Timmons.
She is survived by two daughters, Nancy (Joseph) Zeller of Barrington, Ill. and Suzanne (Thomas) Wilkinson of Madison, Wis.; five grandchildren, Laurie Zeller, Joe (LouAnn) Zeller, Brendon (Michele) Wilkinson, Abby Wilkinson and Katie (Steven) Reuhl; nine great-grandchildren, Ryan and Nikki Daniels, Joe, Emily and Alex Zeller, Jack and Parker Wilkinson and Madeline and Hayden Reuhl; also, a brother, Albert VanDenAvyle of Monroe, Ga.; nephews, Michael (Betty) and James (Carol) VanDenAvyle and Dave (Lynn) Timmons and a niece, Cris (Chuck) Cozzolino.
Her family would like to thank the staff at Alden for their kind and compassionate care.
Memorial contributions may be made to Real Services Kitchen Campaign, P.O. Box 1835, South Bend, IN 46634.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.