Submitted by: Dan Rich

Dina L. DeStoop

May 24, 1915 - Jan. 29, 2002

South Bend Tribune 1/30/2002

Dina L. DeStoop, 86, of 530 Tanglewood Lane, Mishawaka, Ind., died on Tuesday morning, Jan. 29, in Memorial Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, in St. Anthony dePadua Catholic Church, where friends may call one hour before services. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka.

She was born Leopoldine Leoni DeStoop on May 24, 1915, in Brussels, Belgium, to Theophile and Marie Alice (Van Den Bossche) DeStoop, and immigrated to the United States with her parents Oct. 9, 1919. She resided all her life in the South Bend, Mishawaka area. Dina worked as the secretary to the South Bend Chief of Police until 1943. She was employed many years as a secretary for Solitt's Construction Company in South Bend, and retired from there in 1971.

Dina spoke three other languages besides English: French, German and Flemish. She traveled many times by ship and plane to Europe, and after her retirement studied and became very knowledgeable about antiques and collectibles. She was an avid reader. She also was a very loving and devoted caregiver to her parents as they aged, and also to her sister before her death.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret (DeStoop) Helvey, who died in 1999, and by her parents.

She is survived by a step-nephew, Donald R. Helvey of South Bend. Dina lived her life with grace, joy and love, and she will be greatly missed. The Hickey Funeral Home, 3516 E. Jefferson, is handling arrangements.