Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Jean L. Guisinger

Oct. 17, 1926 - Oct. 6, 2008

 

South Bend Tribune 10/9/2008
SOUTH BEND - Jean L. Guisinger, 81, residing in South Bend, passed away at 9:48 p.m. Monday, October 6, 2008, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born October 17, 1926, in South Bend, the daughter of Frank E. and LuElla E. (Freese) Batchelor, and had lived in South Bend all of her life. She graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School, class of 1944, and remained active on the class reunion committee for many years. While attending Riley, she met John Calvin Guisinger. They were united in marriage on August 8, 1945, in South Bend. They enjoyed 53 years of marriage until his passing on October 9, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Joyce E. Overmyer, on July 14, 2004. Jean and her husband John were owners of Guisinger Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in South Bend where she served as secretary-treasurer. They retired in 1997.

 

Mrs. Guisinger was a member of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren where she formerly taught Sunday school, Order of Eastern Star Chapter 569, White Shrine of Jerusalem #10, MADD, Riley Lunch Bunch and the South Bend Alumni Association. Jean was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She always enjoyed being with people, but her family was most important to her. She loved having everyone in her home. She is survived by her six daughters, Bonnie J. (Larry) Swiatkowski of South Bend, Vickie J. McCarty, Elkhart, IN, Kathy L. Jones of South Bend, Julie A. (Mike) Unger of Osceola, Connie L. Stauffer of Niles, MI, and Shari K. Guisinger of South Bend. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, Diane (Bruce) Wilson of Niles, MI, Danny (Tammy) Swiatkowski of South Bend, Eric (Diane) Swiatkowski of New Carlisle, Shaun Swiatkowski of South Bend, Beth Anne Hoggard of Bremerton, WA, Keli Jo (Augustine) Aguilar and Tara McCarty, both of Sayre, OK, Dennis (Jasmine) Shaw Jr. of South Bend, Jason (Kari) Jones of Cape Coral, FL, Jaime (Mike) Helle of Seaside, OR, Cassie and Anthony Unger of Osceola, Clint and Trevor Stauffer of Niles, MI, and Brandon Brunner of South Bend; nine great-grandchildren; her nephew, John (Pam) Overmyer of South Bend; numerous other nieces and nephews; and two special friends, Ron Poole and James Gill, survive Jean as well.

 

Services for Jean Guisinger will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 10, in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend. Rev. Rob Miller, pastor of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren, and Rev. Kenneth Mendenhall of United Pentecostal Church will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. The family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p.m. today, and one hour prior to services Friday in the funeral home. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff and nurses at the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care for the wonderful care and support they received during this time. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Guisinger may be made to The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637; or to the Indiana Cancer Research Foundation, 6330 E. 75th Street, Suite 140, Indianapolis, IN 46250.