obituaries

Nov 11, 2024

JOAN T. YURKO, age 86, of Hobart, passed away Monday, November 11, 2024. She was born on May 19, 1938 to the late Frank and Anne Benka. Joan worked for US Steel as a computer programmer for many years. She was a member of the Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church. Joan enjoyed watching and playing sports, especially...

Nov 9, 2024

Rosetta Ann Laas, age 79, of Lake Station passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday November 9, 2024. She was born December 15,1944 in Effingham, Illinois to the late Harold and Frances (Ashenbremer) Harder. Rosetta was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and dear friend. She enjoyed bowling, feeding her birds, and her Kritters. She lived for...

Nov 8, 2024

Nestor "Jimmy" Singh, 62, of Valparaiso, IN passed away surrounded by loved ones on November 8, 2024.

Nestor, affectionately known as Jimmy, was born on October 6, 1962 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He relocated to Puerto Rico, where he met and married Theresa Gomez, with whom he shares daughters, Denise and Theresa. Nestor and...

Nov 7, 2024

Arlene E. Lee Age 93, passed away on November 7, 2024, at Great Lake healthcare center in Dyer. She was born on May 31, 1931, in Arpin, Wisconsin to the late Ivan and Julia (nee Fry) Hause. Arlene, in her vibrant younger years, nurtured three children and thrived in farming and milking cows, cultivating expansive vegetable gardens in Pittsville,...

Nov 7, 2024

Kathleen J. Needs, age 78, passed away Thursday, November 7,2024. She was born on May 7, 1946, in Gary, Indiana to the late Aloysius F. and Laverne Ceclia (nee Lemanski) Ryba. Kathleen was a lifelong Portage resident, a devout Catholic and a member of Nativity of Our Savior Church.

Kathleen is survived by her two daughters, Valerie...

Nov 6, 2024

Joan Frances Kray (nee Szczepaniak) beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday November 6, 2024. She was born on September 22, 1932, in Gary, Indiana to the late Frank and Sophie Szczepaniak. On June 9,1951, she married Edward Kray at St. Hedwig Church in Gary. Together they raised three daughters....

Nov 5, 2024

Barbara F. Thornton (nee Mow), age 92 of Portage passed away with family by her side on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. She was born on August 16, 1932, to the late Robert and Katherine Mow. On September 20, 1986, she married the love of her life, Ben Thornton, in Merrillville, Indiana.

She is survived by her loving...

Nov 5, 2024

Noreen Hughes, age 56, of Portage passed away Tuesday November 5, 2024, at the University of Chicago Hospitals. She was born April 3, 1968, in Staten Island, NY to the late Richard and Barbara Muth. Noreen was a Homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be missed deeply by her family.

Noreen is survived by her husband,...

Nov 3, 2024

DOROTHY R. ZIMMER, age 68, of New Chicago, passed away Sunday, November 3, 2024. Dorothy was born in Gary on September 22, 1956. She was a graduate of River Forest High School and went on to earn a degree in Computer Science from Purdue Calumet.  After she spent 20 years at Prudential, she went on to be a self-employed...

Nov 3, 2024

James Donald "Don" Lawrence

Age 63, of Knox, formerly of Portage, IN. passed away at his home surrounded by family. He was born on October 22, 1961, in Gary, Indiana to Ellen (nee Babb) and the late James Lawrence. Don retired from Sears, where he worked as a skilled mechanic, he had a deep affection for cars,...

Nov 1, 2024

Carol Royal Phelan, age 70 a longtime Hobart resident formerly of Hammond passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 1, 2024.  She was born on December 18, 1953, in Gary, Indiana to the late Roy and Catherine Steele. On May 14, 1973, she married Corwin "Mike" Phelan in Chicago, IL. She was a devout Christian.

Carol...

Oct 30, 2024

Roberta Snowdy

Age 88 of Lake Sation, Indiana passed away Wednesday, October 30. 2024. She was born on August 2, 1936, to the late Nolan Robert and Hellen C. (nee McGlone) Parr in Chicago, Illinois. Roberta radiated hospitality and flair beautifully decorating and catering Jewish temple and house parties. She delighted in water aerobics, collecting treasured dolls,...

Oct 30, 2024

Shareen Barnack:

Shareen Barnack (Crocker), age 84, passed away Wednesday, October 30, 2024. She was a loving sister, aunt, stepmother and 2nd mom to many.Shareen is survived by her brother Charles Crocker (Eileen) and sister Linda Palmateer (Willard).

Shareen was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Barnack, her father and mother (Charles and Catherine),...

Oct 29, 2024

Kenneth Allen Handley

Age 71 of Lake Station, Indiana passed away on October 29, 2024. Ken to all but his mother, was born on August 7th, 1953, the third of four boisterous sons to Walter and Violet (Waggle) Handley. Ken was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and wore his pride on his sleeve -...

Oct 27, 2024

Gregory Christopher Smith (60) was the first of 4 boys born to MaryAnn and Stephen Smith (both deceased) in Gary, Indiana sharing the birthday with his dad, November 8. Greg has been a caring big brother to Joseph of Portage, Andrew of Portage, and Eric of Kokomo. He passed in Kokomo, Indiana, on Eric's birthday October 27, 2024.  Greg...

Oct 27, 2024

Marlene J. Uhles, age 85 of Hobart passed away Sunday, October 27, 2024. She was born on September 3, 1939, in Evergreen Park, Illinois to the late Alfred and Gladys F.  (nee Gorley) Graham. Marlene, a dedicated postal career retiree from the U.S. Postal Service, inspires with her legacy of love warmth and kindness, a cherished member of Hobart...

Oct 26, 2024

Peter Cyprian, age 67 a longtime Portage resident passed away Saturday, October 26, 2024.  He was born on October 29, 1956 in Kansas City, Kansas to the late Phil and Della Cyprian.  He worked for Minteq technologies as a Service Specialist.  Peter enjoyed hunting, fishing, his mustang and riding his motorcycle.

He is survived by his wife...

Oct 23, 2024

Mary Kay France

(aka Nai Nai)

March 25, 1940 - October 23, 2024

Mary Kay (Brazeau) France, age 84 of Valparaiso, IN passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024, at Broadway Methodist Southlake Hospital. She was born on March 25, 1940, in Lafayette IN.

Mary is survived by three children, Marlene...

Oct 22, 2024

Scott Thomas Jones, 33, of Winamac, IN sadly left us on October 22, 2024. Scott leaves behind his father, Thomas Jones, brothers Eric Jones and Brian (Heather) Freeman, one sister Rachel Freeman, and two bonus brothers/best friends Christopher Fadely and Ryan Rauch, as well as many other family members and friends. Scott was preceded in death by his mother,...

Oct 21, 2024

Victoria "Vicki" Lee Goff (nee Antonini)

Age 82, of Portage, Indiana passed away on October 21, 2024, at her home with her husband by her side. Vicki was born on March 27, 1942, in Clinton, Indiana to the late Fred and Martha (nee Hayes) Antonini. She married her husband Martin on July 12, 1975 in Clinton, Indiana...