Submitted by: Dan Rich
Melva Mae Wensits
South Bend Tribune 12/29/2006
SOUTH BEND - Melva Mae (Betz) Wensits, 91, of South Bend,
died following a brief illness at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, in
the Healthwin Nursing Home. She was a resident of the Milton Home
in South Bend at the time of her death and, prior to that, had
been a resident of St. Paul's Retirement Center in South Bend.
She is survived by four sons, John (Jeanne) of Dayton, Ohio,
Raymond and David (Barbara) of Indianapolis, and James (Carol Schaal)
of South Bend. Mrs. Wensits was born May 28, 1915, in Butler, PA,
and grew up in Tiffin, Ohio, and South Bend. As a young woman she
worked as a beautician at the former Robertson's Dept. Store
before opening her own shop in South Bend.
On Sept. 9, 1939, she married John A.
Wensits, who died in 1998. Together they raised their sons, first
in South Bend and later in Mishawaka where they lived on Saint Lo
Avenue for more than 50 years. Mrs. Wensits had many talents,
including sewing and her abilities as a beautician, but was
unsurpassed as a cook, perfecting many dishes and delighting many
palates. Above all, she was known for her sunny personality and
her ability to see the silver lining, no matter how dark the
cloud. She was also a great fan of public television and Notre
Dame football.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Alta Betz;
three brothers, Arthur, Donald and Lynn; and three sisters, Dora Lewis,
Annetta Voss and Helen Harmon. She is also survived
by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of whom she was
very proud and whose pictures covered her refrigerator.
A Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in St. Monica Catholic
Church, Mishawaka, with burial following at St. Joseph Valley
Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana. Friends will be received from 4
to 7 p.m. today in the Bubb Funeral Chapel North, 3910 North Main
Street, Mishawaka. A wake service will be held at 4:00 p.m. today
in the Bubb Funeral Chapel. The family has requested that
memorial contributions be made to WNIT-TV, Elkhart.