Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Yenellia Lea Laura Calvert

Jan. 24, 1930 - Nov. 15, 2008

 

South Bend Tribune 11/17/2008
MISHAWAKA - Yenellia "Bird Lady" Calvert, 78, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 15th, in her daughter's residence in Mishawaka. Yenellia Lea Laura was born on January 24, 1930, in LaGrange County, IN, as the daughter of Louis Enos and Annie Goldie (Sontchi) Dilts. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Gladys Ewers; two brothers, Russell and Woodward Dilts; and two grandchildren, Jason Calvert and John Brown. On January 25, 1949, in Kentucky, as the former Yenellia Lea Laura Dilts, she married John E. Calvert. Surviving are her loving husband of almost 59 years, John; four children, Kathy (Ralph) Hensel of Mishawaka, Debra (David) Smith of Elkhart, Vickie (Jim) Stickel of Mishawaka and Ron Calvert of Mishawaka; six grandchildren, Michael, James, Debra, Dawn, Yenelldia and Shanna; and 10 great-grandchildren. Yenellia was employed by the former Uniroyal Corp. in Mishawaka for 34 years before her retirement in 1989. She was known to many people as the "Bird Lady" because of raising and caring for birds. She will be missed by all who knew her for her kind and gentle manner and for the love she had for her children and grandchildren.

 

Family and friends may call Tuesday, November 18th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in the Hahn Funeral Home, with Rev. Bob Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Contributions may be made in Yenellia Lea Laura's name to Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.