Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 1/9/2002

Gertrude J. Papai

March 16, 1917 - Jan. 7, 2002

Gertrude J. (Pietrzak) Papai, 84, formerly of West Ben Street in New Carlisle, Ind., passed away at 6:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, in the Hamilton Grove Retirement Community, New Carlisle.

She was born on March 16, 1917, to the late John and Stella (Borlik) Chrobot in Crumstown, Ind. She was a lifelong area resident and had lived in New Carlisle since 1977.

Mrs. Papai was the owner of Peppers Tavern in Crumstown for 42 years until she retired in 1977.

On May 18, 1934, as Gertrude J. Chrobot, she married Alex L. "Peppers" Pietrzak in St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, Terre Coupee. He died on Oct. 4, 1965. On Feb. 14, 1970, as Gertrude J. Pietrzak, she married Steve Papai in St. Hedwig Catholic Church, South Bend, Ind. He died on July 16, 1997. She was also preceded in death by one stepgrandson, David Papai; three sisters, Helen Shoemaker, Esther Chrobot and Genevieve Klopfenstein; and by a brother, Raymond Chrobot.

Gertrude is survived by one daughter, Mary Louise Glon of New Carlisle; one son, James D. (Sally) Pietrzak of New Carlisle; one stepdaughter, Jill (Tony) Mroczkiewicz of South Bend; three stepsons, David (Leanore) Papai of Anderson, Ind., Victor (Mary Lou) Papai of South Bend and Albert (Sandy) Papai of New Carlisle; four grandchildren, Douglas Glon of New Carlisle, Alison (Richard) Abbott of New Carlisle, Timothy (Diane) Pietrzak of Casper, Wyo., and Thomas (Lisa) Pietrzak of New Carlisle; 13 stepgrandchildren, Tod (Barbara) Papai of LaPorte, Ind., Kelly (Tom) Jarka of Rolling Prairie, Ind., Missy (Ray) Kuczmanski of New Carlisle, Albert Mroczkiewicz of South Bend, Vic (Nancy) Papai of New Orleans, La., Kenneth (Cindy) Papai of California, Debbie (Ben) Troxel of California, Christopher Papai of South Bend, Steve (Sondra) Papai of Indianapolis, Ind., Michelle (David) Papai-Drabold of Ohio, Andrea (John) Fowler of Florida, Jeanne Papai of Oregon and Mike (Jennifer) Papai of Anderson; 32 great-grandchildren; one sister, Tillie Szymanski of New Carlisle; and by two brothers, John (Bernice) Chrobot of South Bend and Edwin Chrobot of South Bend.

Mrs. Papai was a member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Terre Coupee, St. Hedwig Altar and Rosary Society, South Bend, T.O.P.S. in New Carlisle and M.R. Falconettes Nest #200.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. (EST) today, Jan. 9, in St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, Terre Coupee, with Rev. Robert McGuire officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Friends called from 3 to 8 p.m. (EST) Tuesday, Jan. 8, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 201 S. Filbert Street, New Carlisle, where a wake service was held at 7 p.m. (EST).