Leona C. Yagelski Bobinski Mazuchowski, June 22, 1919 - February 7, 2020,100, Michigan City, Indiana, passed away Friday, February 7, 2020, at 2:00 am in Trail Creek Place, Michigan City, IN. with her children at her side.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN with Rev. Kevin Huber officiating. Burial will follow in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens, Michigan City, IN. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Tuesday and from 10:00 am - 11:00 am Wednesday at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel.
She was born June 22, 1919, in Burdick, Indiana to the late Frank and Rose (Pilarski) Yagelski.
She grew up in a family of 5 sisters and 4 brothers. She was a lifetime member of St. Mary's Church in Otis, IN where she met Ted Bobinski. They were wed on October 18, 1941.
While Ted bravely fought against the Japanese in World War II, Leona anxiously awaited his return during which time she was employed at Reliance in Michigan City.
After Ted's return from the war, Leona spent 20 years at his side tending their home, raising 3 children, and helping to maintain a happy and fruitful life on their 80-acre farm. She saw to it that there was always something fresh from the garden on the dinner table and there seemed to always be a fresh fruit pie at the ready. She loved cooking, baking, kept the freezer full of good things to eat for the winter and enjoyed playing cards and dice with family members and friends. She would host holiday parties in the basement. She was once asked what she attributed to her long life of 100 years and 7 months, she said it was all the walking she did behind the power mower cutting grass.
After Ted's death in 1965, Leona married Walter Mazuchowski on December 29, 1972. Her years with Wally saw numerous travels including Alaska, Arizona, Kalamazoo, MI, Buffalo, NY, Canada, and a total of 8 visits to Las Vegas, NV. She had been employed at Arno Tape in Michigan City and retired in 1980.
After Wally's death in October 1998, she was able to live alone for 16 years and cultivated a fond pastime for jigsaw puzzles. Many nights on her way to bed, passing by the puzzle, she would stop to place just one piece and soon daybreak would appear. Leona became a part of St. Anthony Memorial LifeLine calling to check on other elderly women who also lived alone. Sometimes she would be the only one they had to talk with.
She then moved to Trail Creek Place and enjoyed 4 1/2 years being taken care of and cultivating many friends.
Surviving are son, David Bobinski of Michigan City, IN; two daughters, Juanita Brown of Thornton, CO and Marilyn (Ted) Slesinski of LaPorte, IN; three step-children, Dolores Shebel of Michigan City, IN, Patricia Hutmacher of Greenwood, IN and Larry (Karen) Mazuchowski of LaPorte, IN. Leona was blessed with 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Also, surviving are her sister-in-law, Rosemary Yagelski of Sarasota, FL, 3 Godchildren, Gene Witek, Gale Weaver, and Kay Kintzele and numerous other nieces and nephews.
Preceding Leona in death were her parents, Frank and Rose; husbands Ted Bobinski and Walter Mazuchowski; her 5 sisters, Mary Janoski Rohlof, Harriett Witek, Theresa Herod, Agnes Hannon, Lucille Elliott, and her 4 brothers, Alex, Joseph, Matthew and Victor Yagelski; 3 sons-in-law, Tom Lowry, William Shebel, and Doug Brown; 6 sisters-in-law, Gertrude Yagelski Semala, Mary Yagelski, Sylvia Yagelski, Steela Krohn, Helen Mioduski, and Henrietta Nover; 10 brothers-in-law, Sally Janoski, Louis Rohlof, Edward Witek, Raymond Herod, John Hannon, Eldred Elliott, and Stanley, Gus, Joseph, and Hank Bobinski: and her Godchild, Geri (Yagelski) Woods.
All of us will miss her greatly. Yet we have the hope of being with her again in the presence of our Lord Jesus.
We, her children, want to give a huge thank you to all the staff at Trail Creek Place and to Dunes Hospice for all their great care of mom.
Contributions may be made to Dunes Hospice, 4711 Evans Ave., Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 or to St. Mary's Catholic Church/Otis, P.O. Box 386, Wanatah, IN 46390.
