Submitted by: John C. Monk

Lil Hunt, 68, of Twin Lakes Trail, South Bend, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2004, at Hospice House, following a one year courageous battle with cancer. She stood strong, vibrant and brave throughout her ordeal.

Her beloved husband, Paul, survives along with their daughter, Karen Messersmith (Bob) of South Bend; and sons, Steve (Angie) of Lafayette, Louisiana and Jeff (Wendy) of Phoenix, Arizona. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren; Bryan, Bradley and Jeremy Messersmith, Andrew, Alex and Caroline Hunt, and Kevin, Kyle and Hanna Hunt.

Lil was born and grew up in Kohler, Wisconsin, the only child of Lillian and John Ruppel, both of whom preceded her in death. She attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1959 with high honors. Lil also earned a masters degree from the University of Illinois in 1962. Lil began a long and successful teaching career in Des Plaines, Illinois, and this is where she and Paul, also a teacher at the time, met. They married on June 18, 1960. Upon Lil and Paul's retirement, they moved to South Bend.

In addition to being happily married for 44 years and very involved with her family, Lil was active in the community -- especially through P.E.O. and Grace United Methodist Church. She could follow but she was best when leading in her quiet, resourceful way. Her first love at church was the Angel Tree Mission, a program that offers opportunities for the membership to provided holiday gifts for the boys and girls of prisoners' families.

If there was a job to do, Lil was at the head of the line to volunteer. High in energy, low in ego, no job was too small to elude her attention and dedication. Throughout her 68 years, Lil always put herself last in the "Me, me, me" department. With Lileen, everyone else had to be served before she worried about herself. At the top of her list of people to serve and love, were her children and grandchildren. She was a caring and devoted mother and grandmother and her family will miss her dearly.

Visitation will take place on Monday, January 3, 2005, at the St. Joseph Funeral Home, 1827 Ireland Road, South Bend, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A Memorial service, to celebrate her life with those she loved and served, will take place in Grace United Methodist Church, 3012 Twyckenham Drive, South Bend at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2005. The Reverends Hosea Drake and Amy Covington will officiate.

Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the American Cancer Society of North Central Indiana or the Mission/ Outreach Committee of Grace United Methodist Church.

South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Ind.: Jan 2, 2005.