Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 5/13/2000

Margaret M. Couch

Sept. 3, 1918 - May 10, 2000

SOUTH BEND, IN — On this day, a loving, warm and beautiful wife, mother and grandmother left us peacefully in her sleep to be with her Lord in Heaven. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

Margaret Mary Couch leaves to honor her memory, her devoted loving husband of 60 years, Victor J. Couch, whom she married on April 20, 1940, in South Bend, and the "treasures" of her life, 5 sons, William G. (Chris) of Watertown, WI, Robert F. (Patti)of South Bend, Michael A. (Vicky) of Mishawaka, John F. of Denver, Colo., Victor J. II (Debi) of Palm Bay, Fla.; 5 daughters, Mary Ann Bruno, Denver, Rita (Bob) Wolf, Stuart, Fla., Rosemarie (Dale) Hollopeter, Castle Rock, Colo., Betty J. Couch and Margaret V. (Roger) Schmeltz of South Bend; 25 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A son, Joseph V., and a daughter, Jane F., preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Otto J. and Julia H. (Foldenauer) Berndt.

She is survived by 3 sisters, Jane (Zane) Trinkley, Joan and Julie Berndt; 4 brothers, Paul (Lea), Richard (Angie), Wilmer (Gertrude) Berndt, all of South Bend, and by Fr. Abbot Alan Berndt, Blue Cloud Abbey, SD.

Margaret retired as head cook with the South Bend Community School Corp., after 16 years, worked as cashier at the Notre Dame Bookstore for 11 years, and had worked at the Robertson's Dept. Store. She was past President of the Altar & Rosary Society of Christ the King Church, and officer in the National Council of Catholic Women as President and Treasurer, a member of the Padre Pio Prayer Group, and Vice President and member of Harvest House. She was a member along with her husband of Christ the King Catholic Church, where she was a Lector and Eucharistic minister to the Home Bound at the parish. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy, South Bend, in 1936.

Friends may visit 4-8 p.m., Sunday, at Christ the King Church, where a rosary will be said at 8 p.m.

Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Monday, in the church, with Father Thomas J. Jones officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park.

The Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart, Ind., is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations may be made to the Christ the King Building Fund, Blue Cloud Abbey, P.O. Box 98, Marvin, SD 57251, or the Parkinson Foundation.

A special thanks to all the loving caregivers that helped make her days brighter.