July
8, 1914 - Jan. 30, 2010SOUTH BEND - Mrs. Mildred Rose Shamo, 95, of South Bend, died at 10:30 PM on January 30, 2010. She died peacefully with her family at her side in Middlebury, IN. Mrs. Shamo was born July 8, 1914, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to J. Louis and Theckla (Schellinger) Gerstbauer. On August 21, 1937, in Mishawaka, Indiana, she married James C. Shamo, who preceded her in death on June 28, 1998. She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, LaPorte. She was a homemaker. She was the organist and choir director at St. Peter Catholic Church for 40 years, a member of St. Peter Rosary Sodality, Our Lady of the Snow Circle and a LaPorte Lionette. She leaves behind two daughters, Nancy (Kenneth) Knabenshue of South Bend and Sara (Rick) Smigielski of South Bend; four sons, E. Martin (Julie) Shamo of Lakeville, IN, J. Charles (Gloria) Shamo of Fort Wayne, Daniel E. (Susan) Shamo of Brownsburg, IN, and William C. Shamo of Arizona; daughter-in-law, Janet Shamo of Fort Wayne, IN; 24 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren; one brother, Albert Gerstbauer of Mishawaka, IN; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter, Virginia Kieffer, and son-in-law, William Kieffer; three sisters, Regina Resnik, Angela Cressy and Collette Hornung; and four brothers, Fabian, Rev. James, Joseph and Richard Gerstbauer A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at 10:00 AM, La Porte time, with Rev. Joseph Angotti officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 2, from 3-7:00 PM, and Wednesday 8:30 - 9:30 AM, and a Rosary at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, all LaPorte time, at Essling Funeral Home. The family wishes to thank her caregivers, Lorraine, Lisa and Pam. Memorial contributions may be made to Pet Refuge, 2300 West 6th St., Mishawaka, IN 46544; or to The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637. Arrangements are being handled by Essling Funeral Home. Family and friends may leave their condolences at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.