In Memory
Alta Ann Chrapliwy
Mar. 20, 1933 - Dec. 13, 2015
Alta A. Chrapliwy, 82, formerly of South Bend, Indiana and residing in Palm Harbor, Florida passed away Sunday, December 13, 2015 at ManorCare Health Services, Palm Harbor, Florida.
Alta was born on March 20, 1933 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Melvin Hostetler and Beatrice Irene (Lehker) Hostetler and lived most of her life in South Bend, graduating from South Bend Central High School. She moved to Palm Harbor, FL in 2010. Alta worked at Uniroyal in Mishawaka for 30 years before her retirement.
Alta made Indiana a better place for women to work and live. But, one should say, not only for the women of Indiana, but for all women throughout this great country. She fought to eliminate barriers by filing a class-action sex discrimination suit against a corporate giant and a local union more than 40 years ago. And her effort has not been forgotten. A statewide council of judges from the Indiana Commission for Women has acknowledged her commitment to battling discrimination by presenting her its Torchbearer Award for labor advocacy. She was nominated by the Indiana Women's History Association. The state honored women torchbearers at the second annual "Salute to Women" held in November, 2005 in Indianapolis. There were 42 finalists in 23 categories. Just to be a finalist is an honor. All were recognized for their accomplishments and they received certificates. Alta was also the recipient of the "2005” Women at Work Award" presented by the Indiana Women's Commission in October. She made history during a 10-year legal battle with Uniroyal and United Rubber Workers Local 65. On Jan. 13, 1970, Alta and seven other laid-off female co-workers traveled to Chicago to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's office to file a lawsuit. Her objective as the lead plaintiff in the sex discrimination suit filed against the corporate giant and the union was clear. Alta wholeheartedly believed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was meant to protect workers from discrimination on the basis of sex or race. Her story is as dramatic as that of the story of “Norma Rae" and how she unionized workers into the Textile Workers Union of America. Alta’s struggle was every bit as difficult. "We had to go through so many lawsuits to achieve our goal," she said. In 1959, she was hired at Uniroyal in Mishawaka. More than 1,100 local women worked on footwear lines. However, in 1969, Uniroyal began closing down manufacturing lines. Alta was laid off in August 1969. "I was self-supporting," she said. "And I didn't realize how hard it would be financially." When her supplemental unemployment benefits were cut -- along with those of female co-workers -- she prepared to file charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. May Alta’s legacy live on.
Alta is survived by her daughter, Susan Kujawski of Palm Harbor, FL; son, Michael (Susan) Chrapliwy of South Bend; sister, Winifred Studebaker of Ft. Wayne, IN; four grandchildren, Joshua (Ginger) Chrapliwy, Jason (Missy) Chrapliwy, Jonathon Chrapliwy, and Jeremy Chrapliwy; and great grandchildren, Mackenzie and Joseph Chrapliwy.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Beatrice Irene Lehker Hostetler; and her father, Melvin Hostetler. She was also preceded in death by three sisters, Donna Barthel, Janet Krivanek, and Arlene Nulf; and brother; Robert Barthel.
Funeral services for Alta A. Chrapliwy will be 1:00 PM Sunday, December 20, 2015 at Palmer Funeral Home – River Park Chapel, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN 46615, where friends may gather with the family from 2:00 – 6:00 PM Saturday, December 19th and one hour prior to services on Sunday. Graveside services will follow at Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Hospice for their loving care of Alta. Memorial Contributions may be made to the SUNCOAST HOSPICE FOUNDATION, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760-9962 or online at www.suncoasthospice.org.
Married to Floyd Chrapliwy on October 11, 1952.
03/30/2022 DEC
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