Submitted by: Dan Rich
Jean L. Guisinger
Oct. 17, 1926 - Oct. 6, 2008
South Bend Tribune 10/9/2008
SOUTH BEND - Jean L. Guisinger, 81, residing in South
Bend, passed away at 9:48 p.m. Monday, October 6, 2008, in her
home surrounded by her loving family. She was born October 17,
1926, in South Bend, the daughter of Frank E. and LuElla E. (Freese)
Batchelor, and had lived in South Bend all of her life.
She graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School, class of
1944, and remained active on the class reunion committee for many
years. While attending Riley, she met John Calvin Guisinger. They
were united in marriage on August 8, 1945, in South Bend. They
enjoyed 53 years of marriage until his passing on October 9,
1998. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Joyce E. Overmyer,
on July 14, 2004. Jean and her husband John were owners of
Guisinger Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in South Bend where she
served as secretary-treasurer. They retired in 1997.
Mrs. Guisinger was a member of Crest Manor
Church of the Brethren where she formerly taught Sunday school,
Order of Eastern Star Chapter 569, White Shrine of Jerusalem #10,
MADD, Riley Lunch Bunch and the South Bend Alumni Association.
Jean was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister
and aunt. She always enjoyed being with people, but her family
was most important to her. She loved having everyone in her home.
She is survived by her six daughters, Bonnie J. (Larry) Swiatkowski
of South Bend, Vickie J. McCarty, Elkhart, IN, Kathy L. Jones
of South Bend, Julie A. (Mike) Unger of Osceola, Connie L.
Stauffer of Niles, MI, and Shari K. Guisinger of South
Bend. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, Diane (Bruce) Wilson
of Niles, MI, Danny (Tammy) Swiatkowski of South Bend, Eric
(Diane) Swiatkowski of New Carlisle, Shaun Swiatkowski of South
Bend, Beth Anne Hoggard of Bremerton, WA, Keli Jo
(Augustine) Aguilar and Tara McCarty, both of
Sayre, OK, Dennis (Jasmine) Shaw Jr. of South Bend, Jason
(Kari) Jones of Cape Coral, FL, Jaime (Mike) Helle of
Seaside, OR, Cassie and Anthony Unger of Osceola, Clint and
Trevor Stauffer of Niles, MI, and Brandon Brunner of South
Bend; nine great-grandchildren; her nephew, John (Pam) Overmyer
of South Bend; numerous other nieces and nephews; and two special
friends, Ron Poole and James Gill, survive Jean as
well.
Services for Jean Guisinger will be held at
11 a.m. Friday, October 10, in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger
Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend. Rev. Rob Miller,
pastor of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren, and Rev. Kenneth
Mendenhall of United Pentecostal Church will officiate. Graveside
services and burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial
Park, Granger. The family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p.m.
today, and one hour prior to services Friday in the funeral home.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the
staff and nurses at the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care
for the wonderful care and support they received during this
time. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Guisinger may be made to
The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 111
Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637; or to the Indiana Cancer
Research Foundation, 6330 E. 75th Street, Suite 140,
Indianapolis, IN 46250.