Mrs. Susie L. Phend, 84, a resident at 502 South Chauncey street for more than 35 years, died at 2:45 a.m. Sunday at the Irvin Nursing Home where she had been a patient since September 14, 1954. Mrs. Phend has been bedfast since August 9, 1954 following a stroke of apoplexy.

She was a native of Elkhart county, and was born January 5, 1872 northwest of Nappanee, a daughter of Eli and Lavina Berlin Yarian. Following her marriage on September 4, 1892, to Henry A. Phend, they went to Harvey, Illinois, where they established their first home. They later returned to Nappanee, and in 1898, moved to Columbia City where Mr. Phend became an employe of the Heel Factory here. In March, 1920, they moved to their present home on South Chauncey street. For many years Mrs. Phend has been a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Surviving relatives include her husband, Henry A. Phend, retired building contractor who is now a patient at the Irvin Nursing Home following a fracture of his hip; seven sons, Victor Phend, Larwill; Cecil Phend, Merriam; Russell Phend, Springport, Mich.; Donald Phend, Virgil Phend, Paul Phend, Gerald Phend, all of this city; one daughter, Mrs. Bernice Holderman Turner, Temple City Calif.; 30 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren. One son, Richard; a daughter, Gladys, two brothers and three sisters have preceded her in death.

The body has been removed to the Smith and Sons Funeral Home where friends may call until noon Tuesday when it will be taken to the Evangelical United Brethren Church to lie in state until the hour of the service. The pastor, the Rev. P.F. Young, and the Rev. Cecil Smith of Young America, will officiate at the memorial rites at 2 p.m. Committal services and burial will be in the South Park cemetery.

Source: Columbia City Post April 30, 1956