June 23, 1929 - Mar. 30, 2010SOUTH BEND - Norma J. Kovach, 80, a former resident of South Bend, passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2010 in her home in Gulfport, FL. She was born June 23, 1929 in South Bend, a daughter of John "Kelly" & Freda (Spitler) Noble, and lived here all of her life until moving to Gulfport in 2002. On June 6, 1953 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, South Bend, Norma was united in marriage to Donald J. Kovach. He passed away on May 22, 2001. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Lee Noble in 1945, during WWII, and Kenneth Noble in January 2009. Norma retired as Administrative Assistant at Holy Cross Health Systems. She also served as Secretary to former Mayor Jerry Miller, and worked at the Bendix Corp. She was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Lakeville, and its Altar & Rosary Society, Daughters of Isabella, and Lions Club in South Bend. While living in Gulfport, she was a member of Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, and Gulfport Women's Club. Mrs. Kovach is survived by three daughters, Elaine (Mark) Flemming, Julie (Paul) Howard, and Karen (Thaddeus) Dudka, all of South Bend, her sister, Patricia (Roger) DeClercq, and sister-in-law, Barbara "Pinky" Noble, both of South Bend. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, Todd Howard, Jennifer Dudka, Corey Howard, Dana Howard, Zachary Dudka, Christopher Howard, Donald Flemming, Stephanie Flemming, Andrew Howard, and Jacob Flemming, a great-granddaughter, Kayden Howard, and several nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Cremation will follow the Mass. The family will receive friends from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend, where a parish rosary will be said at 5:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. A Memorial service is also planned for Noon, Friday, April 9, at the Gulf Shores Club House in Gulfport, FL. Expressions of sympathy on behalf of Mrs. Kovach may be offered to the American Lung Association, 9445 Delegates Row, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3805. Online condolences to the Kovach family may be sent to www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.