Charlene Miswick Mihelich, 84
Born: Sept. 13, 1928
Died: Oct. 6, 2012

Charlene J. Miswick Mihelich, 84, of Niles, died at 6:47 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, at the home of her daughter in South Bend of natural causes.

She was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Niles to John E. and Helen B. (Botwinski) Misiewicz, and lived in this area most of her life. Charlene was employed by Simplicity Pattern Company.

She and her husband, Edward, owned and operated the former Arrowhead Restaurant in Brevort on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, serving many tourists and hunters during the era of construction of the Mackinac Bridge. In 1962, they returned to Niles, where Ed taught for the Niles Community Schools system.

Charlene was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church of Niles. She had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and Saint Anthony. She enjoyed music, entertaining and deeply loved her roles as wife and mother.

On Feb. 11, 1956, in Waukegan, Ill., she married Edward P. Mihelich, with whom she celebrated the 44th wedding anniversary prior to his death Nov. 16, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her parents, John E. and Helen Miswick; and by her siblings, Henry Miswick, Eugenia Miswick, May Gracey, Lillian Harman, John C. Miswick, Thaddeus E. Miswick, James R. Miswick; and an infant sister, Helen Misiewicz.

Surviving family includes her son and daughter, Michael (Vanessa) Mihelich of Tampa, Fla., and Kathleen (Bernard) Black of South Bend; grandsons, Christopher Edward Black, Andrew Anthony Black and Patrick Michael Black; and many nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Charlene Mihelich will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Saint Mary Catholic Church by the Rev. David Otto of the parish.

Committal rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 until 4 and 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Friday led by the Rev. Daryl Rybicki of Corpus Christi Parish in South Bend.

Contributions in memory of Charlene Mihelich may be made to Saint Mary Catholic School in Niles.