Loretta BRENDA

4 MAY 1930 - 17 SEP 2021

• BIRTH: 4 MAY 1930, Laporte, IN
• DEATH: 17 SEP 2021, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 9 MAY 1953, Laporte, IN

1.  Susan CIESIELSKI
2.  Michael J. CIESIELSKI

INDEX

[N29632] Loretta Ciesielski
nee Brenda
May 4, 1930 - September 17, 2021

Loretta M. Ciesielski - Loretta away peacefully on Friday, September 17, 2021. Loretta was born on May 4, 1930 in La Porte, IN to Bernice (Shimkus) Zippel and Joseph Brenda and beloved by her Stepfather Deane Zippel, who all proceeded her in death. She married the love of her life, the late Joseph Ciesielski on May 9, 1953. She is survived by her son Michael (Joyce Ness) Ciesielski; daughter Susan (Steven) Rook; granddaughters Ashley (Melisa Krueger) Krueger-Rook and Alison (William) Balmer; grandson Brandon (Janet Arterburn) Ness; and 3 beloved great grandchildren ReKiyia Krueger-Rook, Hunter Kyrie Krueger-Rook, and Kennedy Balmer. Loretta led a long and very full life. As a teenager she worked at Lenick’s Dairy, and had other interesting jobs, including as a Drive-In Movie Cashier and various secretarial positions. Her favorite was being a school secretary at St. Mary’s of the Assumption in South Bend. Loretta loved to travel and did so extensively. She regularly attended banker’s conventions with her husband and they took their kids on numerous family vacations, even crossing the Rio Grande on foot! After her husband passed, she went on many ladies’ excursions with friends and multiple trips with her adult children. She rarely ever missed one of her granddaughters’ sports competitions that took her across the country (although the referees probably wished she stayed home). Loretta was an avid sports fan (especially Norte Dame). She was a long-time animal lover, with her late dog, Jordan, being her favorite. She enjoyed gardening, cake decorating, crafting, flower arranging, and most recently coloring and painting. She made creative Halloween costumes, which were always prize winners at the PNA Halloween parties. A great hostess or helper, she thoroughly enjoyed family get-togethers and parties big or small. She was the consummate good sport with all the antics her daughter and granddaughters would put her through. Loretta always made holidays and celebrations special with her decorating and delicious food; thankfully she has passed down her recipes to her family over the years. Loretta was an extremely generous person. She was not only charitably inclined, but extremely giving of her time. She was an amazing listener, constant supporter of her family, and unafraid of sharing her thoughts and opinions. She will be sorely missed by all whose lives she touched, but lives on in the lessons and love she shared with those she cared about the most. Visitation for Loretta will be 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, September 23, 2021 in St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Rd. A Funeral Service will take place at 10:00 am on Friday, September 24, 2021 in the Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net