Elaine S. (Blacharski) Demi Walkowiak

Elaine S. Demi Walkowiak, 84, of South Bend, IN, passed away at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, September 13, 2017, surrounded by her family, in her home.  She died four days before her 85th birthday.

She was born on September 17, 1932 to the late Stanislaw D. and Martha M. (Marcinkowski) Blacharski in South Bend, IN and was a lifelong resident.  Along with her parents; she was also preceded in death by two brothers, Edward and Henry Blacharski.

Elaine was a 1951 graduate of South Bend Catholic High School, where she was the Valedictorian of her class.   She also attended Michiana College of Commerce.

Elaine worked at Bendix for 10 years as a Secretary, and then worked as a Mortgage Loan Clerk at 1st Source Bank for 25 years until 1996.

On September 15, 1955, as Elaine S. Blacharski, she married Charles Demi, who preceded in her in death.  She then married Donald Walkowiak on June 15, 1996.  He died on July 28, 2017.

Elaine is survived by her two daughters, Diane (Dennis) Glick of South Bend, IN; Sharon (Christopher Pinkerton) Demi of South Bend, IN; two grandchildren, Rebecca (Keith) Thompson of California; Dennis (Jordan) Glick of Mishawaka, IN; five great-grandchildren, Marissa, Hailee, and Dylan Glick; Gavin and Shelby Thompson; a sister, Genevieve Stachowicz of Mishawaka, IN; nieces & nephews, Edward (Cathy) Stachowicz of Lafayette, IN; John Stachowicz of New York; Juliette Stachowicz of California; great-nieces & great-nephews, Jonathan, Emily, Sara, and Adam Stachowicz; four great-great-nephews; three grand dogs, Sybil, Pez, and Hot Dog.

Elaine was a member of St. John the Baptist Parish for nearly 60 years, where she belonged to the Retiree’s Club, Rosary Society, and sang in both the St. Stanislaus Parish Choir and St. John the Baptist Parish Choir.   Elaine also was a member of St. Hedwig Golden Cluster, Chopin Fine Arts Club, West Side Conservation Club, and Beacon Bowl Women’s League. She also volunteered for St. Vincent DePaul Society delivering food baskets.  She loved to read, travel and paint ceramics.  She had traveled extensively over her lifetime.  Elaine was a wonderful Seamstress, a loving and wonderful mother who was very proud of her children, and enjoyed spending time with them as often as she could.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday, September 15, 2017 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN, where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 5:00 p.m. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.   Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to: The Hospice Foundation, Supporting Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN  46545.        

To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.