Submitted by: Dan Rich

Mae Gaska

July 17, 1912 - Nov. 1, 2007

South Bend Tribune 11/6/2007

SOUTH BEND - Mae Gaska, 95, of South Bend, died at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Zigmont Gaska in 1996; by a son, John L. Gaska in 1977; and by a sister, Marie Norris. She is survived by a daughter, Joyce I. Kaniewski; nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren, 21 great-great-grandchildren and four step-great-great-grandchildren.

Cremation will take place with a memorial service to be held at a later date. The Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St., is assisting with arrangements.

South Bend Tribune 11/15/2007
SOUTH BEND - Mae Gaska, 95, of Parkview Place, South Bend, where she had resided for 35 years, died following an illness at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007, in Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Gaska was born July 17, 1912, in Cleveland, OH, to the late Kasper and Antonette (Hnelycko) Gornik, who were from Poland, and she had lived in South Bend since 1928, coming from Elkhart, IN.

On December 7, 1928, in Mishawaka, as Mae Gornik, she married Zigmont George Gaska, who preceded her in death in 1996. She was also preceded in death by a son, John L. Gaska in 1977; four sisters, Eleanor, Helen, Marie and Stella; and by two brothers, Tony and Pete. She is survived by a daughter, Joyce I. Kaniewski of South Bend; nine grandchildren, Joseph (Jeanne) Kaniewski, Jeanne (Ed) Voreis, Mike (Diana) Kaniewski, Juliann (Mike) Unruh, Jim (Deatra) Gaska, Jill (Jim) Ballard, Jerry (Mike) Gaska-Straub, J.C. Gaska and Rick Gaska; 21 great-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren, 21 great-great-grandchildren and four step-great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Julia Games of Michigan.

Mae was a comptometer operator for National Mill Supply and, with her husband, they were co-founders of Symphonic Strings Sales and Service where she served as secretary-treasurer. She was a Gray Lady at Memorial Hospital during World War II. She was a member of the former Progress Club, was a member of the Chapin Fine Arts Club and the Elkhart Symphony Women's Auxiliary. She also was very active with her husband, Zigmont George, in the Elkhart Symphony and the Gaska String Quartet. Mae was a gentle and caring person, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, a great cook, and will be greatly missed by all.