Sylvia (Woodcox) Mitschelen

Sylvia Mitschelen, 88, residing in South Bend, Indiana passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.  Sylvia was born on January 18, 1935, in South Bend, IN to the late Marion Eli Woodcox and Mary Orpha (Steininger) Woodcox and has been a lifelong resident of the Michiana area.

On June 27, 1954, at South Side Church of God, South Bend, Sylvia was united in marriage to Lewis David Mitschelen.  Together they enjoyed 68 years of marriage.  As a teenager, Sylvia suffered with polio, and always gave God the glory for her healing.  She attended Centre Township School and was a 1954 graduate of Riley High School.  Sylvia was a homemaker and a secretary for Mitschelen House Moving.  She attended South Side Church of God and was actively involved with the Women’s Missionary Society, the Sanctuary Choir, and several musical ensembles.  Sylvia enjoyed making crafts for the church’s Annual Christmas Bazaar.  She loved to sing and had a great love for the hymns of the church.  She was a wonderful mom and was always there for her kids.  She also enjoyed gardening, and when others gave up on a houseplant, she knew exactly what to do to bring it back to life.  The greatest joy of her heart was being with her family.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Lewis Mitschelen, of South Bend; daughter, Connie (Dennis) Wood of Mishawaka; sons, Dennis (Linda) Mitschelen of Mishawaka, and Kevin (Rhonda) Mitschelen of Goshen; along with seven grandchildren, Angie (Charlie) Gormely, Valerie (Tyler) Wagers, Holly Mitschelen, Andrew Mitschelen, Hannah (Zee) Griggs, Jacob Mitschelen, and Jordan Mitschelen; and four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Rose Wagers, Adam Dennis Wagers, Zadie May Griggs and Zylah Jean Griggs.

Also surviving are the three sons of Keith Mitschelen’s fiancé and companion, Kathy O’Leary.  They are Joshua (Christine) Witt, step-children, Jasmine and Braiden,  Shawn Witt, and Justin (Kara) Witt, along with grandchildren, Kendra, Kaiden, Dawson, Hudsen, Brysen, Zackery and Faithlyn.

Sylvia and Lewis’ son, Keith, and fiancé, Kathy, have both preceded Sylvia in death.  Also preceding her in death were her nine siblings, Ronald Woodcox, Marrietta Ruth Woodcox, Everett Lee Woodcox, Ethelmae Woodcox Stephens, Donna Faye Woodcox Platz, Orville Dean Woodcox, Phyllis Irene Woodcox Craig, Max Woodcox, and Maxine Woodcox.

Funeral Service for Sylvia will be 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, with 2 hours of visitation prior at South Side Church of God, 7351 IN-931, South Bend, IN 46614. Graveside services will be at the South Union Cemetery, Nappanee, IN.

The family would like to thank the nurses, Stella Waitjaka and Lucy Ngugi who came faithfully each day to provide for her needs. We would also like to thank the ladies that came each week to give Sylvia a bath; Cindy Kilgore, who volunteered her time to read to her each week; the Hospice nurse, Ron, who came out to the house each week for a year and a half to check her vitals; and the staff and management at Briarcliff for taking such wonderful care of Sylvia the past eight months.

Palmer Funeral Home – Guisinger Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com

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