ELKHART -- Irene Hebel, 86, of Elkhart, died at 12:15 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 21, 2008) in Riverside Village Nursing Facility.

She was born Oct. 17, 1922, in Chicago to John and Thecla (Chrysty) Zerebiny. On Oct. 25, 1940, she married Walter D. Hebel in Chicago. He died in 1958 in Elkhart.

Mrs. Hebel is survived by two sons, Richard G. Hebel of Osceola and Daniel Hebel of Elkhart; two daughters, Nancy I. (Robert) Hopman-Postma and Marian I. (John) Grover, both of Elkhart; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one grandson, Ronald Hopman; three brothers, Mike, George and Johnnie; and three sisters, Mary, Anna and Helen.

Mrs. Hebel was a seamstress and sewed everything from her children's clothing to dolls and doll clothing. She sewed at the Bons Smoler Dress Shop for more than 25 years. She liked crocheting and canning vegetables in her earlier days. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

Friends may call one hour prior to Saturday's 10:30 a.m. funeral service at Billing's Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. The Rev. Kevin Bauman of St. Vincent's will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Vincent's Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer's Association. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.