Gladys Mae EVON

15 JUN 1927 - 11 MAR 2021

• BIRTH: 15 JUN 1927, Chicago, Cook, IL
• DEATH: 11 MAR 2021, Mishawaka, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 26 AUG 1959, St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, South Bend, IN

INDEX

[N28000] Gladys Mae Evon Keller
June 15, 1927 - March 11, 2021

South Bend - Gladys Mae Keller passed from this world on Thursday at 6:15 am at 93 years of age, at the Center for Hospice Care in Mishawaka, her son Bob at her side. Gladys was born in Chicago, IL, on June 15, 1927 and is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Catherine (Dobro/Dobrowalski) Evon, and her four siblings Henry (Norine) Evon, Alice (Cal) Bird, Harriette (Matt) Nilles, and Mary Jane (Maury) Martens. Gladys attended St. Rita’s Catholic Grade School in Chicago, IL, then moved to Des Moines, IA, and soon settled in Mishawaka, IN. She graduated from Mishawaka High School, class of 1945, thereafter she worked as an operator at the Bell Telephone Company in downtown South Bend, IN. She married the love of her life, Thomas R. Keller, on August 26, 1950 at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church in South Bend. They joined Holy Family Catholic Church, where their five children attended grade school, and where Gladys remained a member for the rest of her life. Together, Gladys and Tom set to work building a beautiful house from scratch, both pumping water from the well, and brushing their teeth outside-even in winter-until the house progressed. They lived in the home for nearly their entire married life, only moving when old age made it impossible to stay. Gladys was completely devoted to her beloved husband, children, grandchildren and family. A tireless homemaker, Gladys was the most amazing cook, making the best Christmas cookies, sloppy joes, baked beans, chili and her husband’s favorite, fried eggplant. Organization was Gladys’ gift. One of her proudest accomplishments included packing the family car with everything that could possibly ever be needed on family camping vacations for seven people. Gladys made every holiday and gathering special, and was renowned for her big family parties where good food was abundant and the drinks never stopped flowing. Gladys was a dedicated member of a card-playing club for many decades, which was comprised of some of her dearest lady friends, who considered her a bit of a card shark. When Tom retired in May 1989, Gladys and Tom enjoyed life as snowbirds, spending winters “Jazzercising” at Citrus Park in Bonita Springs, FL, and later in Winterville, NC, always returning home for Easter. In later years, one of her favorite pastimes was sitting on the bluff in St. Joseph, MI, with her family overlooking Lake Michigan, sipping hidden cocktails. As the matriarch of the Keller family, who was so deeply loved by her family, was the strongest woman her loved ones ever knew. Gladys is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Thomas R., of Mishawaka, IN; her five children, Tim (Karen) of Grand Haven, MI; Kathee Kiesselbach, of Daphne, AL; Bob (Mary) of Granger, IN; Mike (Cheryl) of Winterville, NC; and Tom of Washington, DC and New Canaan, CT. She also leaves behind her adored grandchildren: Elizabeth, Jennifer, Katherine, Daniel, David, Jason, Rachael, Abby, Caleb, Sarah and Mike, along with 16 great-grandchildren, each of which she loved very much, and they her.
Visitation for Gladys will be held 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Friday, March 19, 2021, in Saint Joseph Funeral Home, Mayflower Rd. A requiem Mass will follow at 1:00 pm in Holy Family Catholic Church, after which proceeding to Highland Cemetery for burial. Condolences may be made at www.sjfh.net