Concetta "Connie" M. (Rodino) Eppers

Concetta (Connie) Margaret Eppers, 92, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully into the gates of heaven on September 29, 2021.

Connie was born on April 4, 1929 to the late Joseph and Mary (Patanelli) Rodino. She was the oldest of three children. Connie is survived by her loving husband of 72 years Joseph Henry Eppers, her sister Lenora (Lenny) Carl, her aunt Dolores Patanelli, and her five children; Carla (Chris) Buhler of Indianapolis, Matthew (Marcia) Eppers of Union MI, Richard (Laurie) Eppers, Amy Fassler of Elkhart, and Joseph (Shelley) Eppers of Newtown CT; 19 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren (with five more on the way).  She was preceded in death by her brother Samuel J. Rodino.

Connie married Joe on July 4, 1949 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elkhart.  That day was the hottest day on record and the church had no air conditioning. It was the first of many wonderful and exciting days to come.

Connie was a graduate of Elkhart High School. After marrying Joe, she became a fulltime homemaker and mother to her five children. There was no limit to her fierce devotion and loyalty to her children and then grandchildren. Connie was a member of the Rosary Society at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church before she moved to the north side of town and became a long-time devout parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.  She was a loving wife and mother, with a sweet tooth, sharp tongue and great sense of humor. She enjoyed spending time with her growing family, playing bridge, making ceramics, cooking great Italian meals, collecting antiques, and sharing her passion for finding a great bargain at one of the many garage sales, auctions, and estate sales she frequented over the last 50+ years. She essentially became the first ‘American Picker’. If you visited Mom you had to leave with something that she found for you and wanted you to have. Connie was a large supporter of many charities. Her biggest passion was giving to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital as well as countless other charities she believed helped people that were less fortunate.

Joe and Connie owned and operated Shakey’s Pizza, a successful family style restaurant, which ultimately grew to five restaurants located across Elkhart, Dunlap, South Bend, Mishawaka, and Indianapolis.

Visitation will be held at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St. Elkhart, on Sunday, October 3, 2021 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, with the praying of the Rosary at approximately 3:45 PM.

An additional hour of visitation will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St. in Elkhart, on Monday October 4, 2021 at 10:00 AM in advance of the Mass of Christian Burial service at 11:00 AM. Rev. Jason Freiburger will officiate.  Burial will follow at St. Vincent Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place., Memphis, TN 38105 or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 414238 Boston, MA 02241-4238

“We Love You MORE, Mom!”

Condolences may be made online at www.billingsfuneralhome.com

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