In Memory
Catherine M. (Peters) Couch
September 4, 1925 ~ August 31, 2024 98 Years Old
Catherine May (Peters) Couch was called home to her family in Heaven August 31, 2024 at 8:15 am at St. Paul’s Assisted Living Home in South Bend. She passed peacefully in her sleep.
Catherine was born September 4, 1925 in Mishawaka, Indiana to Medar “Pete” and Catherine Anna (Weinkauf) Peters. Catherine was the youngest of three children, she had one brother Edward Leo Peters and one sister, Margaret Ann (Peters) Mahar. Being the last child born she was referred to as “Babe” most of her life on her side of the family. Catherine married Leo Andrew Paul Couch on August 24, 1950 in South Bend and they had three sons; David Leo, James Patrick Peter, and Leo Andrew Paul Couch.
Catherine was raised in the Great Depression years and often told stories about life at the home that her father Medar built on 1643 Knoblock Street. In 1928 the family lost most of their land because they were unable to pay back taxes that were due. That land is now part of the South Bend Regional Airport.
During the depression they raised most of their food on their property with the help of “Uncle” Amiel Neirinck who had been one of the master gardeners for the King of Belgium, who immigrated to the US and stayed with them on Knoblock Street. She said strangers showed up at their door during that time for food, they never turned anyone away. Catherine developed a taste for black coffee and drank it that way her entire life. Her father Medar who died tragically in 1943, instilled the family values and a work ethic that Catherine lived by her entire life.
Raised as a Catholic, she attended Mount Pleasant, a Methodist grade school in German Township and attended all their reunions til most classmates were too old or had passed on. The old school is not part of the South Bend Regional Airport.
When Catherine graduated grade school she attended the old Central High School in South Bend, graduating in 1943 as “Secretary de luxe”. That became her career in life.
Catherine’s best and lifelong friend was her neighbor from grade school days, Eula Korn. They did everything together, including an excursion trip on the S.S. Noronic in September 1949. The morning of September 17, 1949, while at dock in Toronto Canada, the Noronic caught fire and Catherine & Eula escaped when many others did not.
Catherine’s work career encompassed many jobs. During high school she worked at the Caramel Corn Shop on Main St. and at Wyman’s department store wrapping presents during the Christmas season. After graduation she worked for the South Bend Police Department and the South Bend Fire Department but was forced to leave when Mayor Lloyd Allen was elected and wanted her to register as a Republican, and she refused. Catherine worked for a time at Charles W. Cole & Son Architects. Her next job was at the South Bend Public Library as the personal secretary to two directors, Roger Bryant Francis & Donald Napoli. She retired from the Library in 1987.
She rode the bus most of her life to work and shopping. In the evenings Catherine worked at Bruno’s Pizza as bookkeeper and cashier until 2012 when she was 87 years old. She also worked part time days at the Country Bake Shop and Baker’s Dozen Bake Shop. The owners of Bakers Dozen, Maria and Frank Rzeszutek, immigrated in the 60’s and settled in our neighborhood and needed help. They could not speak any English and Catherine could not speak Polish but together they made it work until their family moved to the west side of South Bend.
She was a good cook and a great baker, overcoming her mother’s refusal to teach her. She canned everything during the growing season to save money. Some of the many things that people would request during Christmas was her fruitcake which was super moist from her secret ingredient and her famous Rum Balls.
She was a den mother in Cub Scouts, volunteered at St. Joseph Grade School in the Library and for fund raisers, worked the polls during elections, donated her baked goods to the Library to raise money, organized family reunions, and did typing for Notre Dame graduate students.
Catherine was all about family her whole life. Whether it was raising three sons as a single mom or the many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, neighbor kids, and even the Notre Dame H.O.T (House on Turnock) students that lived next door and she helped them along the way. She received a lot of help from family members, friends, and neighbors during the hard times when she was raising the family.
Special thanks go to niece Therese (Humphrey) Ball who was very close to our family and took excellent care of Catherine during the last years of her life- a true guardian Angel. Also good friend Diane Tiser, who was always there to lend a hand and Margaret (Couch) and Roger Schmeltz who helped fix things around the house.
Catherine loved her fresh lake fish. When her sons were younger she had a steady supply but when they were older the fish supply dried up for a short time but her niece Michelle (Humphrey) and husband Pat McLaughlin kept her well supplied and happy.
Catherine is survived by her two sons, David Couch, and James and Sandy (Myers) Couch, two great-grandsons; Gage and Izea, Nieces Therese (Humphrey) and Bruce Ball, Margaret (Couch) Schmeltz, Michelle (Humphrey) and Pat McLaughlin, Dixie (Mahar) and Paul Schauer, Sherry (Peters) Uzelac, Ivar Pail “Buddy” and Christine (White) Langdon, Rene Elaine Landon, and many more.
Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo Andrew Couch, son Leo Andrew Couch, grandson Adam David Couch, brother Edward Peters Sr. & wife LaVerne Elvira (Osos) Peters, sister Margaret Ann (Peters) Mahar, nephew Edward Peters Jr. & wife Gloria (Wheet) Peters, nieces Deborah Ann Peters &Suzanne Marie (Peters) Trenter. Wilma Joan (Mahar) Fell, Kathleen Annette (Mahar) Matthews, nephews Jimmie Walter Mahar, Jack Edward Mahar, Joseph Allen Schauer, Paul John Schauer, Harry Michael Fell.
Catherine for many years said that when the time came that she wanted to be in Saint Paul’s retirement home in South Bend. She lived there for the last 2 ½ years of her life. We would like to thank all the people at Saint Paul’s and especially the second floor employees that took great care of Catherine during her stay here.
Memorial Contributions may be given to National Kidney Foundation 911 East 86th Street Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46240.
St. Vincent de Paul Society 520 Crescent Avenue South Bend, IN 46617 (574) 234-6000
Per Catherine’s wishes, cremation has occurred and was followed by a private burial at Fairview Cemetery in Mishawaka.
Palmer Funeral Homes-Guisinger chapel assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences to the family may be sent via the Palmer Funeral Homes website at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com
9/13/2024 djb
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