CATHERINE (MARTIN) VILLWOCK

April 24, 1922 - May 13, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Catherine Martin Villwock, 87, passed away on May 13, 2009 in Hospice House in South Bend. Catherine was born on April 24, 1922 to F. Stewart & Carrie (Drew) Martin, both of whom preceded her in death.

Catherine graduated from Central High School in 1940, and went on to attend and graduate from Elmhurst College, in Elmhurst, Illinois in 1945, with a Bachelors degree in education. She took a one-year leave from college to work in the Ball Band plant in Mishawaka during WWII, helping out in the war effort, and then returned to college and finished her education.

She worked as a schoolteacher for a year in Elmhurst, then moved back to South Bend and married Carl F. Villwock on July 20, 1946.

She had four children from this marriage, which lasted 59 years, ending on the death of her husband, Carl, on September 24,2005. All four of her children survive: Shirley Ross-Jones (Vernon) of Louisville, KY; Janet Schroeder (Tom) of Granger, IN; Bruce Villwock (Judi) of Granger, IN; and Ron Villwock of Las Vegas, NV and his companion Diane She has five surviving grandchildren: Amy Ross (Kevin); Matthew Ross (Angie); Cheri Snook (Kris); Scott Schroeder; and Zachary Schroeder. She also has one great-granddaughter, Autumn Snook, who was born on April 3, 2009. She was very excited and happy to live to see her first great-grandchild. Two grandchildren preceded her in death: Brian Villwock and Erin E. Villwock.

Catherine taught school in the South Bend Community School Corporation for many years, ending her teaching career at Washington High School by taking an early retirement in 1972.

Catherine and Carl traveled, gardened, and enjoyed family gatherings with their children and grandchildren, in their retirement. Together they had many good times and were very devoted to each other. Catherine was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and will be missed deeply by her family and friends. Catherine had many friends from Christ the King Lutheran Church, who visited with her and made her time more enjoyable after Carl's passing.

Her family would like to thank all of her friends for taking the time to visit and do things with her, as she truly loved visiting with you. We would also like to thank the staff at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for their kind and wonderful treatment of Mom during her last week here. We also want to thank the staff of the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care in South Bend for their compassion and caring during her final hours here on earth.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, May 18, 2009 at Palmer Funeral Home - River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend. Rev Steve Schwier, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church will officiate. Friends may visit with the family from 4:00-8:00 PM Sunday in the funeral home. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers the family would like to request that contributions be made in her honor to the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, South Bend. We know she is at peace and happy to be with Dad again, at last.

Published by South Bend Tribune on May 16, 2009.

03/08/2023 EJS