Sept. 7, 1916 - March 21, 2010

ELKHART -- Celia M. Chmiel, 93, of Elkhart, formerly of East Chicago, passed away Sunday evening, March 21, 2010, at Hubbard Hill Estates.

Celia was born on Sept. 7, 1916, in East Chicago to the late Anthony and Mary (Kozolars) Szura. She married Edward A. Chmiel on July 13, 1965. He passed away on Sept. 14, 2001, in North Fort Myers, Fla.

Surviving are her son, Terry (Lori) Chmiel of Elkhart; grandchildren Brett (Jennifer) Chmiel of Chesapeake, Va. and Heather (Keith) Schuetz of Goshen; and great-grandson Kaden Schuetz, at home. Surviving as well are her sisters Bernice Zwinklis of Hammond, Florence Hicks of Crown Point and Joan Libioda of Calumet City, Ill.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Jenny, and two brothers, Smitty and Bruno Szura.

Please join with her family and friends Wednesday, March 24, 2010, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where a vigil service will be prayed at 4:30 p.m. Friends also may call one half-hour prior to the 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010, Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St., Elkhart. The Rev. Bill Sullivan will officiate. A graveside service and burial will follow at 1 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 711 E. 77th. Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 with Rev. John Siekierski of St. Stanislaus Church officiating.

Celia worked in sales at the former Gould's Department Store in East Chicago and was a member of St. Stanislaus Church there. She then attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church when she and Edward lived in the Fort Myers, Fla., area. Celia enjoyed going on cruises, especially on the Holland American Line, playing bingo and visiting the casinos.

The family request memorials be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may reach the family via www.billingsfuneralhome.com.