Mrs. Mildred Rose Shamo, 95, of South Bend, IN, and formerly of LaPorte, died peacefully with her family at her side at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, in Middlebury, IN.
She was born July 8, 1914, in Mishawaka, IN, to J. Louis and Theckla (Schellinger) Gerstbauer.
She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, LaPorte, and had been the organist and choir director at the church for 40 years. She was also a homemaker. She was a member of St. Peter Rosary Sodality and Our Lady of the Snow Circle, and had been a LaPorte Lionette.
On Aug. 21, 1937, in Mishawaka, she married James C. Shamo, who preceded her in death on June 28, 1998.
She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Virginia Kieffer, and son-in-law William Kieffer; three sisters, Regina Resnik, Angela Cressy and Collette Hornung; and four brothers, Fabian, Rev. James, Joseph and Richard Gerstbauer.
She leaves behind two daughters, Nancy (Kenneth) Knabenshue of South Bend and Sara (Rick) Smigielski of South Bend; four sons, E. Martin (Julie) Shamo of Lakeville, IN, J. Charles (Gloria) Shamo of Fort Wayne, IN, Daniel E. (Susan) Shamo of Brownsburg, IN, and William C. Shamo of Arizona; daughter-in-law Janet Shamo of Fort Wayne; 24 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; one brother, Albert Gerstbauer of Mishawaka; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 10 a.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church, LaPorte, with Rev. Joseph Angotti officiating. Visitation will be held at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
The family wishes to thank Mrs. Shamo’s caregivers, Lorraine, Lisa and Pam.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pet Refuge, 2300 West 6th St., Mishawaka, IN 46544; or The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.
Glen McGlothlin — February 2, 2010 @ 7:51 pm
Millie Shamo and my mother, Louella Shultz, were on the choir at St. Peter church. They used to get together often after mass. Both are gone now. Maybe they have a choir where they went.
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