Gertrude M. Van Laere
Submitted by: Dan Rich
Gertrude M. Van Laere
Nov. 10, 1920 - Dec. 13, 2008
South Bend Tribune 12/17/2008
SOUTH BEND - On December 13, 2008, Gertrude M. Van Laere
was called to Our Father. Born November 10, 1920, to Boleslaus
"Bill" and Stella (Zalewski) Cholewczynski,
Gert lived her more than 88 years entirely in South Bend,
Indiana. She left school during the 9th grade to work and aid in
the support of her family. On April 6, 1940, she married August
J. Van Laere and, after having children, became a stay-at-home
mom for her children and many of their friends. Having grown up
during the Depression, she did not want many material things. She
desired a comfortable place to live, family, good friends and an
occasional Euchre game. Gert lived more than 50 years married to
her husband, Augie. He preceded her in death along with her
youngest son, Mark A. Van Laere; her parents; brother, Norbert
Cholewczynski; sister, Virginia Kolesiak; various in-laws,
relatives and friends. She was a longtime parishioner of Holy
Cross Catholic Church, South Bend, Indiana, and collected for and
gave to various charities. A devout Catholic, she believed in and
regularly said the Rosary and attended Mass. She was a member of
the Alter Rosary Society of Holy Cross, Holy Cross Church's
Harvest House, St. Patrick's Harvest House, St. Casimir's
Parish's Harvest House, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church's Harvest
House, St. Adalbert's Parish's Harvest House, PNA's Euchre Club
and Leighton Center's Euchre. In late summer of 1980, she was
diagnosed with leukemia. She courageously battled leukemia and
held it in remission, not letting it defeat her, with the aid of
Dr. Rafat Ansari. She leaves, mourning her loss, her children,
James A. (Pauline) Van Laere of Bremen, Indiana, Michael J. (Sue)
Van Laere of Philomath, Oregon, Paul E. (Peggy) Van Laere of
Granger, Indiana, Barbara A. (Jack) Karling of South Bend,
Indiana, and John W. (Julie) Van Laere of Niles, Michigan; a
daughter-in-law, Debby Van Laere of Niles, Michigan; many
grandchildren and their spouses and great-grandchildren. She was
proud of her six children and their spouses, 19 grandchildren and
31 great-grandchildren. Also, she leaves her sisters, Adeline Hes,
Dorothy Kujawski, Theresa Cholewczynski; sister-in-law,
Rita Cholewczynski; brother and sister-in-law, Eddie and Katheryn
Van Laere; nieces, nephews, relatives, in-laws and dear friends.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today, December 17, 2008, in the St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Road, South Bend, Indiana, where a Rosary will be said at 5:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 18, 2008, in Holy Cross Catholic Church, South Bend, Indiana. Entombment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana. In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family requests that contributions be made to the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, to Holy Cross School or to the charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff who have cared for Gertrude over the years, especially Dr. Ziboh, the physicians and staff of Memorial Hospital, and staff of the Sanctuary at Holy Cross, especially Mary and Frank and her roommate Barbara, for the care given to Gertrude in her times of need.