Submitted by: Dan Rich

Clara Marie Polinck

Aug. 27, 1916 - March 4, 2008

South Bend Tribune 3/5/2008
SOUTH BEND - Clara Marie Polinck, 91, of South Ironwood Drive, formerly of Mishawaka, passed away on Tuesday, March 4th, in St. Paul's Health Care Facility. Clara was born on August 27, 1916, in Woodland, IN, as the daughter of Mary (Remery) Hillaert. She was raised by her mother, Mary, and stepfather, Arthur Talliart.

On June 19, 1937, in St. Bavo Catholic Church, as Clara Hillaert, she married Albert Polinck. Albert preceded her in death on July 2, 1982. Clara's brother, Joseph Hillaert, and wife, Lucy (Van Hoecke), and their son, James Hillaert, also preceded her in death. Clara is survived by a nephew, John Hillaert, his wife, Terri, and their three children, Christopher, Robin and Laura from Vienna, Virginia; and a niece, Kathleen Aed of Yorba Linda, CA, and her two sons, Michael and Jonathon of California. Clara is also survived by a sister-in-law, Mary DePaepe (Polinck), and her three grandsons, Richard, Robert and Terry DePaepe, and two granddaughters, Janet Wozniak and Lynne Howard, all of South Bend; sisters-in-law, Jane Mittleman, Victorine Van Der Beke, Dorothy Sabade and Elsie Popielski; good friends and neighbors, Scott and Lucille Hixenbaugh, and Mike Borjorno. Clara worked at Uniroyal for 39 years and retired in 1974. She belonged to St. Bavo Catholic Church, The BK Club Ladies Auxiliary and the Widows Club.

Friends and family may call on Friday, March 7th, from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8th, in St. Bavo Catholic Church, Mishawaka, with Rev. Barry England officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bavo Catholic Church, 511 W. 7th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544.