Ruth A. Schilla
passed away on November 8, 2017, at VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso.
She was born in
Morocco, Indiana, on October 26, 1928, to the late Ray Carroll and Jessie
Amelia Deardurff.
On September
26,1987, she married Leonard Schilla who preceded her in death on June 11,
1997.
She was also
preceded in death by a brother Richard Deardurff, a sister Beverly
Williamson a son Jeffery Pieszchala, a grandson Brandon Schilla, and a
great-granddaughter Jennifer Swisher.
Ruth’s surviving
family includes her children Diane (Bill) Lile of Plymouth, IN, Susan
(Terry) Pieszchala of White Bear Lake, MN, Michael (Debbie) Pieszchala of
LaPorte, IN, Connie Pieszchala of LaPorte, IN, Richard (Karla) Pieszchala of
Westville, IN, Christopher (Carol) Pieszchala of Valparaiso, IN, and Scott
(Karen) Pieszchala of South Haven, IN, a “special daughter” Lety (Manuel)
Alarcorn, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Step-children Cheryl Goodwin of Michigan
City, IN, Debbie Dean of Chesterton, IN, and Ross Schilla. Ruth had many
grandchildren: Kevin, Mindy, Kimberly, David, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Eric,
Todd, Tricia, Jeff, Jessie, Eric, Jason, Beth, Samantha, Matt, Nikki,
Nathan, Jacqui, Lisa, Tim, Aaron, Becki, Sarah, Cliff, Danielle, and Sara;
Richie, Holly, Mark, Tanya, Scott, Tammy, Britney Schilla; Maria, Aimee,
Brian, Melissa, Vince, Sam, and Karen.
She is also
survived by her great-grandchildren: Samual, Hanna, Oskar, Clara, Lucas,
Meridith, Ezra, Ambrose, Avarey, Aiden, Adelyn, Kaleb, Karson, Tyler, Blake,
Madison, Ryleigh, James, Gregory, Aurora, Aiden, Evan, Kaylin, Georgie,
Joseph, James, along with Drake, Taylor, Kaitlyn, Caidence, Sarah, Emily,
Wesley, Jessica, Katie, Dean, Brooke, Cody, Jamie, Samantha, Ian, Dustin,
Kenny, Abigail, and Alexis; along with her great-great grandchildren:
Sierra, Savanah, Nobilee, Nathan, Landon, Andrew, Almon, Ameilia, Grayson,
and Ledger.
Ruth is also
survived by two sisters Carol Winkler of Bourbon, IN, and Sherry Siddall of
LaPorte, IN, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Ruth and Bud owned
Dress Well Cleaners and Industrial Roofing in Chesterton, IN. She was an
active member of PWP and enjoyed having house parties and going out to
dinner with her many friends. She belonged to the Chesterton Women’s Club,
Senior Center and a Bible Study Group. She was a member of the 4th Street
Theater and donated a portion of their building for the plays. She was a
member of the Mennonite Church in Valparaiso. Ruth was a good friend to many
and treasured their friendships and time spent together.
She was an
excellent seamstress and enjoyed making baby quilts for each of her
grandchildren as well as donating them to a women’s shelter. She enjoyed
planting flowers and took pride in having a beautiful yard she would work
crossword puzzles and watch Jeopardy. Her signature dishes were sauerkraut
and sausage and deviled eggs. She would say that was her ticket to get into
any party.
A service to
celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at the Valparaiso Mennonite Church, 1305
Silhavy Rd., Valparaiso, IN, on Saturday, November 25, 2017, at 11 a.m. A
visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service.
It was her wish to
be cremated and burial of ashes will be in Chesterton Cemetery next to her
husband, Bud.
In lieu of flowers:
VNA Hospice, Valparaiso Mennonite Church, and The Westchester Neighbors Food
Pantry, in Chesterton.
Arrangements are
under the care of White-Funeral Home, Chesterton.