Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 11/11/2002

Bertha Battles

April 23, 1920 - Nov. 9, 2002

Bertha I. Battles, 82, of Ironwood Road, South Bend, passed away after an illness on Saturday, November 9, 2002 in Holy Cross Care & Rehabilitation Center, South Bend.

Bertha was born on April 23, 1920 in Mishawaka as the daughter of the late August and Jennie (La Free) Van De Walle.

On June 18, 1938 in South Bend as Bertha Van De Walle she married Woodrow Battles who preceded her in death on April 5, 1961. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Arthur, Achiel and Rene.

Bertha is survived by two daughters, Mary (Jack) Wieging of Granger, Ind., Sylvia (Mike) Fisher of Hastings, Mich.; five sons, Alan (Janet) Battles of Barrington, Ill., August (Susie) Battles of Gainesville, Ill., Robert Battles of Knoxville, Tenn., John (Phyllis) Battles of Morristown, Minn. And Richard Battles of Coon Rapids, Minn. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren 6 great grandchildren.

Bertha was a lifetime area resident. She was a Clerk for 10 years at Country Bake Shop. She was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Lakeville. The Rosary Society and a member of Progressive Home Economics Club (through Purdue University) for 49 years.

Friends may call from 2:00 - 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12 in Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka, where a Rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday November 13, in Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, South Bend (Lakeville) with Rev. Thomas King officiating. Burial will follow in Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions may be made in Bertha's memory to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, PO Box 2528, South Bend, IN 46680-2528, Right To Life Inc., of St. Joseph County, 320 N. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601 or to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Ct., South Bend, IN 46637-3437.