Joan (Opaczewski) Kitkowski

Aug. 24, 1934 - Aug. 11, 2013

SOUTH BEND - Joan Kitkowski, 78, of South Bend, IN, passed away at 8:27 a.m. Sunday, August 11, 2013, with her family near her side at Hospice House. Joan was born on Aug. 24, 1934, in South Bend, IN to Edmund and Violet (Nowak) Opaczewski. She lived in South Bend until 2008, before moving to Plymouth, IN.

She married Elias "Kit" Kitkowski on May 11, 1955. Surviving are her three children, Jeff Kitkowski of South Bend, IN, Stacie (Robert) Garcilazo of South Bend, IN, and Karen (John) Pemberton of New Carlisle, IN; four grandchildren, Taylor, Brandon, Jocelyn, and Jacob; two step-grandchildren, Jonathon and Joshua; two sisters, Diane Wassenhove of South Bend, IN, and Sue (Robert) Drabecki of Fort Wayne, IN; and one brother, Robert "Butch" Opaczewski of Bremen, IN.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Elias "Kit" Kitkowski; son, Brian Kitkowski; and two brothers, Dick Opaczewski and Conrad "Connie" Opaczewski.

Joan and Kit owned Pink Elephant Liquor Store and 4K Ice Company. Joan loved gardening, interior decorating, and watching her granddaughter Taylor play softball. She was an avid Notre Dame, Chicago Bears, and Chicago White Sox fan.

Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN, where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at Christ the King Catholic Church. Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made, in her memory, to Hospice Foundation, 4220 Edison Lakes Pkwy., Ste. 210, Mishawaka, IN 46545-1440. To send condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com. Published in South Bend Tribune from Aug. 12 to Aug. 13, 2013

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

11/05/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122517184/joan-kitkowski