Dorothy J. Istenes

Dorothy J. Istenes, 90, of South Bend, Indiana passed away Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the Greenleaf Health Campus, Elkhart, Indiana. Dorothy was born on December 1, 1934 in South Bend to Edwin and Valentine (Pytlewicz) Jankowski.  She retired as the Head Cashier from the former Wilt’s Supermarket in South Bend.  On May 8, 1954, in St. Hedwig Church, she married John J. Istenes, who preceded her in death on September 3, 2010. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Robert Jankowski.  Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Suzanne (Ron) Kopke of Middlebury, Indiana; her son Thomas (Linda) Istenes of Elkhart, Indiana; two grandchildren, William (Dawna) Knebel and Katie Knebel; two great-grandsons, Nicholas and Ethan Knebel; and by several step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 2025, in St. Anthony de Padua Church.  Entombment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.  A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Saturday in the church.  Dorothy was a graduate and valedictorian of her class at South Bend Catholic High School.  She enjoyed gardening, cooking, crocheting, ceramics and painting. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her greatest treasures.  Memorial Contributions should be directed to St. Anthony de Padua Church.  Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

I Hope I have Made a Difference

God gave me a place on earth

To be there for awhile

I hope that as I passed on through

I made somebody smile.

I tried to make life easier

For all the one’s I’d meet

I asked God for His Blessings

So wondrous and so sweet

And now my life on earth is done

It is my final plea

Let someone, somewhere thinks or say

You made a difference to me.

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