Submitted by: Dan Rich

Elsie Hildegard VanderHagen

March 25, 1916 - March 5, 2003

South Bend Tribune 3/9/2003

Elsie Hildegard VanderHagen, 86, residing on East Ewing Avenue, South Bend, Ind., passed away following an illness at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, in her home. She was born March 25, 1916, in Lund, Sweden, as the daughter of Mauritz and Astrid (Falk) Magnuson, and came to the United States in June 1929 at the age of 13.

On March 4, 1943, in South Bend, as Elsie Magnuson, she married Edward J. Vander Hagen. They were married for nearly 57 years until his passing on Feb. 21, 2000. She was also preceded in death by a great-grandson, Daniel Pierce. She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Sandra L. and Lawrence B. St. Germain of Mishawaka, Ind., and Vicky and Donald Wigent of South Bend; six grandchildren, Kim Adami, Kathi Pierce, Kristen Scott, Chris Wigent, all of Mishawaka, Stephanie Pierce of Niles, Mich., and Erin Wigent of South Bend; 12 great-grandchildren; and by her sister, Inga Damp of South Bend.

A private family service will be at noon Wednesday, March 12, in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan St., South Bend. Rev. David Honeycutt, pastor of Deer Run Church of Christ, will officiate. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Donations in memory of Mrs. Vander Hagen may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.