Ardith F. Garreffa, 74, of Elkhart, passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Brickyard Healthcare in Elkhart, IN. She was born in Newton, Kansas on July 2, 1950, to the late Henry and Othielia M. (Ewert) Fransen.

Ardith was also preceded in death by her husband, Larry Garreffa and brother, John Fransen. She is survived by her siblings, Paul Fransen and Kristine (Gordon) Van Mulligen; brother-in-law, Michael Garreffa; nephews Kiefer (Joelle) and their children, (Clara and Felix) and Kyle (Nizanne) and niece, Julianna (Marco).

She will be laid to rest in Prairie Street Cemetery in Elkhart. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Belmont Mennonite Church, 925 Oxford St. in Elkhart. Billings Funeral Home in Elkhart was entrusted to care for Ardith's arrangements.

Ardith was an authentic person who genuinely cared deeply for others around her. She was a preschool teacher for many years and enjoyed helping the children she taught and loved watching them grow. Ardith had a kind heart that was sincere and had a lifelong trust in God. She was a deeply sensitive empath and she took on the wounds of others through prayer. She will be dearly missed by her loving family and friends.