Submitted by: Dan Rich

Evadna Claeys

Sept. 2, 1915 - Aug. 21, 1998

South Bend Tribune 8/23/1998

SOUTH BEND - Evadna "Shuy" Claeys, 82, of Jefferson Boulevard, South Bend, Ind., died at 3:48 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, in her residence. She was born on Sept. 2, 1915, in Goshen, Ind., to Eva R. (Gregg) and Frank H. Shumaker, both of whom preceded her in death. She had been a resident of South Bend since 1916.

On July 6, 1940, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, as Evadna Shumaker, she married Jerry Claeys, Jr., who survives. Mr. and Mrs. Claeys were married for 58 years. Mrs. Claeys was a loving wife, mother of five children and a grandmother of 11. Mrs. Claeys is survived by two daughters, Colleen Claeys Bent and her husband, Robert of Duxbury, Mass., and Jacquelyn Claeys Kilroy and her husband, Harry of St. Charles, Ill.; three sons, Jerry Claeys, III and his wife, Barbara of Lake Forest, Ill., Gregg Claeys and his wife, Greta of South Bend and Christopher Claeys and his wife, Patrice of Chicago, Ill.; 11 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Matthew, Andrew and Katherine Claeys, Kailen, April and Faith Bent, Abigail and Jillian Kilroy, Marissa and Suzanne Claeys; and by a sister, Lois Shumaker Nash of South Bend. She was a member of St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, the Christ Child Society, and the South Bend Art League. She was one of the founders of the Service Guild. She attended Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., and was a 1933 graduate of Central High School.

Memorial services for Mrs. Claeys will be at 11 a.m on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, South Bend. There will be no visitation. Cremation will take place with entombment at Highland Cemetery. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Christ Child Society, 1124 Thomas St., South Bend, IN 46601. Welsheimer Funeral Home is handling arrangements.