Elizabeth Rose McLain

Aug. 28, 1920 - Mar. 4, 2025

Elizabeth R. (Riba) McLain, age 104, of South Bend, Indiana (living in Rineyville and Elizabethtown, Kentucky for the past 10 years), passed away at Peridot Senior Living on March 4, 2025. She was born on August 28, 1920, in South Bend, Indiana to Balthazar “Boldi” and Agnes (Balough) Riba. She graduated from Our Lady of Hungary Grade School in 1934 and Washington High School, South Bend, Indiana in 1938. She married Joseph M. McLain on November 11, 1938 and they had three children. She worked at Lincoln Life in Fort Wayne; Ball Band in Mishawaka; and was a Payroll Clerk for the Torrington Company in South Bend for 23 years, retiring in 1981. Elizabeth and Joe traveled extensively during their retirement, going to Europe twice, drove all over the United States visiting family and friends, and participated in several cruises. They also thoroughly enjoyed bus tours sponsored by the Notre Dame Credit Union.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joe, her daughter Donna Bryant (Barri) Evangelisti, her parents and ten siblings. She is survived by her daughter Barbara (John) Nichols of Blaine, Minnesota, and son Robert (Cindy) of Rineyville, Kentucky. She is also survived by nine grandchildren Beth (Jim) Kocsis of Elkhart; Jeff Bryant, Laura Bryant, and Jenny (Sam) Snyder of South Bend; Joe (Sonja) McLain, of Indianapolis; Rob McLain of Danville (IN); Kim (Eric) Einan and Emily (Chris) Bischof of Chicago; and Katie (Mike) Vallarta of Mt. Lebanon, PA; 20 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren. Her last three years of life were spent at Peridot Senior Living, a Personal Care facility in Elizabethtown, KY. The owners, nurses and staff are compassionate, caring and loving, and we consider them “family” as well. For the last year, she has been seen by Hosparus Health--Lori bathed her twice a week; Angela and Hannah were her nurses who looked in on her weekly. Chaplain Tommy was also a blessing!

Elizabeth’s gravesite service will be held at the Marion National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Father Ted Rothrock from St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Marion will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Hungary Church or School, 829 W. Calvert Street, South Bend, IN 46614 or Hosparus Health-Central Kentucky, 105 Diecks Drive, P.O. Box 2148, Elizabethtown, KY 42702.

Published in the South Bend Tribune on March 27, 2025.

03/08/2025 DEC