MATILDA JANE REHM

Matilda Jane Rehm Nov. 25, 1925 - Sept. 21, 2015 SOUTH BEND - Matilda Jane Rehm, age 89, passed away on Monday, September 21, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio with her niece and loving caregivers by her side. Ms. Rehm was born on November 25, 1925 in Austin, Texas to Alfred Carl and Ruth Lydia (nee) Tanke Rehm. Her family moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1929 and then to South Bend in 1933, where she lived until moving to Cincinnati last year to be closer to family.

Ms. Rehm graduated from Central High School in 1944 and from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. As if that weren't enough, she went on to earn her BS education from Indiana University in 1951 and a Master of Arts from Ball State in 1967.

Ms. Rehm retired from nursing in 1989 to care for her ailing mother after spending 43 years teaching and working in hospitals in Gary and Vincennes and at South Bend Memorial and then finally working as a charge nurse at Cardinal Nursing Home in South Bend. When asked what she enjoyed most about nursing, she always told people, "Teaching. I think I loved teaching other nurses the most." When she wasn't working or teaching, Ms. Rehm enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, skiing, bicycling (often with the local cycling club), and volunteering at her church. Perhaps most of all, she enjoyed knitting, sewing, tatting, making crafts and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Ms. Rehm will always be remembered for her quiet disposition and for her charming, yet unique, personality. Says one of her nephews, "Tillie was a calming presence during many a Christmas holiday visit, knitting with a slightly amused smile. Tillie was also an object example to me that an independent woman could succeed and be happy in life." Another nephew recalled her "rarely getting angry" and being "pretty unflappable". Ms. Rehm loved her family, and they loved her. Everyone loved "Aunt Tillie".

Ms. Rehm was preceded in death by her parents, her sister (Emily Rehm Landis) and her brother and sister-in-law (Carl Richard and Dorothy Rehm). She is survived by her brother-in-law, Tom Landis of Arlington, Texas, by her nieces Jennifer Landis Ehlers (and family) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Barbara Landis McWhirter (and family) of Arlington, Texas, Beverly Landis Horner (and family) of Ulysses, Kansas, Dawn Rehm of Washington, D.C. and by her nephews Jonathan Landis (and family) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Larry (Rebecca) Landis of Corvallis, Oregon and Eric (Mary Geary) Rehm of Quebec, Canada. Others include 13 great nieces and nephews, one great-great niece, and several cousins. She will be missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Evangel Heights United Methodist Church, 114 N. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana, 46615. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 28th, at Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street, followed by her service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park Cemetery. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Sep. 26, 2015.

02/22/2023 EJS