Elaine J Stodolny

Elaine Stodolny passed into eternal life, surrounded by her loving family, on June 1, 2022. She was 95 years old.

Elaine was born in 1926 to Sophia and Casimer Bartkowiak and lived almost all of her life on the west side of South Bend. She loved her family, friends, and Polish roots and traditions and was strong in her Catholic faith.

Elaine graduated from Washington High School in 1945 and received her Registered Nursing certification in Gary, Indiana through the Cadet Nursing Corps scholarship program offered during World War II. After graduation she was employed by Memorial Hospital and then later worked for St. Joseph Hospital, Cardinal Nursing Home and finished her professional career at the Dujarie House, caring for the elderly Brothers of the Holy Cross. She was also a private duty nurse for the terminally ill. Elaine was devoted to her profession.

Elaine continued nursing long after retirement as she cared for family members in need of her skill and compassion. Because of this, with the help of her children, her husband Roman was able to remain at home until he passed. Elaine was a true caregiver at heart.

Elaine love gathering her family around her and enjoyed the company of her friends. She loved cooking, baking, canning, knitting, sewing, playing cards, and was a lively part of any party. One of her favorite pastimes was to be out at Big Fish Lake.

She will be remembered for her welcoming spirit and hospitality, and her love of family and friends. Grandma’s house was the place to be for the holidays and when she could no longer have these gatherings they were sorely missed.

Elaine was a parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Church and belonged to the Altar and Rosary sodality.

Elaine’s first husband, Edward Chojnacki, died in 1957. They were married for 8 years and had three children together. In 1959, Elaine married Roman Stodolny and they had one child together. Roman passed away in 2008. Also preceding her in death are 2 grandsons, Jacob Chojnacki, and Joshua Comeau, and brothers, Norman and Joseph (Joey Barnes) Bartkowiak.

She is survived by her children, Susan (Richard) Pusztai, and Anne (Mark) Bell-Maron, Larry (Karen) Chojnacki, Bryan (Lori Duranek) Chojnacki; grandchildren, Lisbeth (John) Kelly, John (Sarah) Comeau, Andrew (Kate) Comeau, Rosary (Joshua) Comeau, Elliot (Lindsie Rees) Stoetzel, Romey Bell, Christopher (Renee) Chojnacki, Kenny Chojnacki, Nicole Chojnacki; 22 great-grandchildren; her brother, Gerald Bartkowiak, and her dear friends and “sisters”, Val, Theresa, and Betty.

The family is so very thankful for the many wonderful caregivers that assisted our Mom in her final years along with Caring Cove Hospice and the family of Beloved Home Care in Mishawaka who embraced and lovingly cared for her as their own in her final days. The loving kindness that they showed to Elaine will be remembered with gratefulness and affection.

Visitation for Elaine will be Friday, June 10, 2022 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm in St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Rd. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 pm in Holy Family Catholic Church following visitation. Burial will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 Mayflower Rd. South Bend, IN and Caring Care Hospice, 3120 N. Home St., Mishawaka, IN 46545. Condolences may be made at www.sjfh.net.

Posted online on June 04, 2022

Published in South Bend Tribune

06/04/2022 EJS