Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Melva Mae Wensits

May 28, 1915 - Dec. 27, 2006

 

South Bend Tribune 12/29/2006
SOUTH BEND - Melva Mae (Betz) Wensits, 91, of South Bend, died following a brief illness at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, in the Healthwin Nursing Home. She was a resident of the Milton Home in South Bend at the time of her death and, prior to that, had been a resident of St. Paul's Retirement Center in South Bend. She is survived by four sons, John (Jeanne) of Dayton, Ohio, Raymond and David (Barbara) of Indianapolis, and James (Carol Schaal) of South Bend. Mrs. Wensits was born May 28, 1915, in Butler, PA, and grew up in Tiffin, Ohio, and South Bend. As a young woman she worked as a beautician at the former Robertson's Dept. Store before opening her own shop in South Bend.

 

On Sept. 9, 1939, she married John A. Wensits, who died in 1998. Together they raised their sons, first in South Bend and later in Mishawaka where they lived on Saint Lo Avenue for more than 50 years. Mrs. Wensits had many talents, including sewing and her abilities as a beautician, but was unsurpassed as a cook, perfecting many dishes and delighting many palates. Above all, she was known for her sunny personality and her ability to see the silver lining, no matter how dark the cloud. She was also a great fan of public television and Notre Dame football.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Alta Betz; three brothers, Arthur, Donald and Lynn; and three sisters, Dora Lewis, Annetta Voss and Helen Harmon. She is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of whom she was very proud and whose pictures covered her refrigerator.

A Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in St. Monica Catholic Church, Mishawaka, with burial following at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana. Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. today in the Bubb Funeral Chapel North, 3910 North Main Street, Mishawaka. A wake service will be held at 4:00 p.m. today in the Bubb Funeral Chapel. The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to WNIT-TV, Elkhart.