Naomi GIFFELS

1934 - 18 JAN 2020

• BIRTH: 1934, Cass County, Michigan
• DEATH: 18 JAN 2020, Golden Living Nursing Center, Lake County, IN

• MARRIAGE: 1953, Cass County, Michigan

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[N23404] Naomi Huffman Szot
January 18, 2020

MERRILLVILLE, IN - Naomi Huffman Szot, age 86, passed away Saturday, January 18, 2020 at Golden Living Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph J. Szot; parents, Harold H. and Marie Huffman (Giffels); and a brother, Kent Huffman. She is survived by two sons, John (Pat) Szot of Merrillville, Indiana and Jim Szot of Cheyenne, Wyoming; one grandson, Thomas Szot of Merrillville; two granddaughters, Kathleen (Ryan) Szot-Fritz of Chicago and Crystal Szot of Kansas City; and one sister, Mary Jane Young of Three Rivers, MI. Naomi was a woman ahead of her time: mother, homemaker, and entrepreneur. She was a model of the small-town girl who made good. She graduated from Cassopolis, Michigan High School, married Joseph Szot in 1953, had two sons, John and Jim, and moved to Niles, Michigan. Then, without any additional education, she started her own legal business as a court reporter. Soon, because of her hard work she was in demand in court houses and lawyers' offices all over southwestern lower Michigan. For years she ran her enterprise single-handedly. But for Mom, family always came first. At holidays and family vacations, she was “take charge.” Health problems, especially rheumatoid arthritis, forced Mom to retire early. She and Dad moved to their home-away-from-home, Walhalla, Michigan, where they lived for a decade. Thereafter, they returned to Niles where they spent another 10 years. The couple moved to northwest Indiana to be close to John and his family. After Joe's death in 2017, Mom lived comfortably at Golden Living in Merrillville until her death.
Family and friends may gather at Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals (202 North Broadway, Cassopolis, MI) on Friday, February 7, 2020 from 3:00 - 6:00 P.M. (E.S.T.) for a Memorial Visitation. She will be laid to rest at Van Riper Cemetery on Saturday, February 8, 2020. Memorials in her name may be made to a charity of your choice or directly to Golden Living Center (8800 Virginia Pl., Merrillville, IN 46410). Pruzin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Services of Merrillville, IN in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.pruzinfuneralservice.com to express online condolences and view online obituary.Published in South Bend Tribune from Feb. 2 to Feb. 5, 2020