Eloise Marie VANETT

1 NOV 1914 - 14 JAN 2011

• BIRTH: 1 NOV 1914, South Bend, IN
• BURIAL: St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN
• DEATH: 14 JAN 2011, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 10 APR 1937, St Joseph County, Indiana

1.  Judith KAMINSKI

INDEX

[N3164]
Eloise Marie Kaminski
Nov. 1, 1914 - Jan. 14, 2011
SOUTH BEND - Eloise Marie Kaminski, 96, of South Bend, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2011. Eloise was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Kaminski, in May 1999; her mother, Marie Vanett; her father, Lawrence Vanett; her sisters, Margie Simcox and Janet Warner; her brothers, Dee Vanett and Roy Vanett; and by her son-in-law, Homer O'Brien. She is survived by her four children, Judith O'Brien of Griffith, IN, James Kaminski of St. Petersburg, FL, Bill Kaminski (Dee) of Edwardsburg, MI, and Christine "Tina" Sanders (Bill) of South Bend, IN; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Ray Vanett and Don Vanett, both of South Bend, IN. Eloise was born in South Bend on November 1, 1914. When she was very young, they moved to Orangeville, MI, and Eloise returned to South Bend at age 15 to live with her grandmother in hopes of a better life than the hard life in Michigan that she and her siblings endured, as they had little money then. Eloise chose to go to work after finishing her 10th grade of high school, so that she could help her large family financially, taking babysitting jobs and once as a nanny, taking the bus or trolley car across town many times to the families that hired her. Later on, she worked as a legal secretary. While still a young and single lady, Eloise enjoyed her social life of going to dances with her friends in and around South Bend, especially to Playland Park, where she met her beloved husband, John Kaminski. John and Eloise were married on April 10, 1937, and began their long and loving life together, until his death in 1999. John and Eloise were proud parents and provided for their four children very well, and with lots of love and hard work and their determination to give their children a good life, which they most certainly did. They took many family camping vacations each summer that are now cherished memories to all of us children. They also loved to go dancing to the big bands and often traveled to Chicago on summer weekends to the Aragon and other well-known dance clubs. They were also members of the Mishawaka Eagles Lodge for many years, where they continued to enjoy their dancing. Eloise returned to work after her children were grown and worked many years for Central Ace Hardware in Roseland, where she was remarkably well-respected and often asked for by name by all the regular customers for her knowledge and expertise in assisting them. After retiring, both Eloise and John enjoyed some 25 years at their beloved cabin, which they built together, in the northern woods of Wisconsin near Hayward, where they fished, hiked and, of course, danced! They would think nothing of traveling 100 miles for an evening of dinner and dancing if they heard it was a great place to go! It was often disputed who loved fishing more, Eloise or John! In addition to dancing and fishing, Eloise loved to sew and make crafts. There were many winter trips to Florida for camping and more fun together. Eloise was known for many loving things she did for her family, and gave each and every one of us a sense of responsibility to family and living life to its fullest. She never stopped setting an example to all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with her extraordinary strength of character. Eloise was also the best baker of an apple pie that anyone could ever hope to eat! You will be in all our hearts forever, Mom. You are now once again joined eternally with Dad, and dancing. Funeral services for Mrs. Kaminski will be 9:30 a.m. Monday, January 17, 2011, in the Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend. Graveside services and burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. today, January 16, 2011, in the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy on behalf of Eloise may be made to Southern Care Hospice, 310 West McKinley Avenue, Suite 340, Mishawaka, IN 46545. Online condolences to the Kaminski family may be sent to www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
Published in South Bend Tribune on January 16, 2011