Mattie L. Prchlik

1940 - 2022

Mattie L. Prchlik, 81, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at StoryPoint Senior Living in Granger, Indiana, where she had been a resident for three years. She died as a result of a cerebrovascular accident.

Mattie was born Dec. 15, 1940, in Nappanee, IN, to the late Levi J. and Katie P. (Miller) Mast. On June 30, 1962, she married the man who had eyes only for her, Florian C. Prchlik, known by many as "Floyd' or "Sonny." Floyd and Mattie had one son, Kirt Edward Prchlik. Mattie most loved her roles as wife and mother, always keeping these two close in her heart and at the forefront of her mind. They both preceded her in death, Floyd in 1996 and Kirt in 2020. She is joyously reunited with them once again in eternal rest.

Along with her devoted husband, loving son and parents, Mattie is preceded in death by a sister, Malinda (Don) Schalliol; and brothers Roman (June) and Joseph Mast. Mattie is survived by her daughter-in-law, Barbara Pietraszewski; a niece, Ruth A. Mast; many cousins; and a large, extended family.

Mattie grew up in Nappanee, graduated from Nappanee High School in 1959, and lived in Goshen most of her life. She held jobs sewing cushions and mattresses in the furniture, RV, and bedding industries and retired from Elkhart Bedding. Mattie and Floyd enjoyed traveling to see family and friends in their fifth-wheel camper. As a proud citizen of the United States of America, Mattie possessed a great love for her country and donated to several charities supporting our courageous veterans. A convert to the Catholic faith, Mattie was devoutly religious and a long-time parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Goshen.

After the untimely passing of her husband, Mattie became the handywoman and all-around home maintenance expert she needed to be with the help and unending patience of her son Kirt. She firmly believed in personally solving her own problems. She was fondly referred to as "Granny Clampett," always diagnosing her own health issues and the most appropriate remedies. Mattie's sister Malinda became her frequent travel partner and shopping companion. Mattie loved watching QVC and shopping on that channel. She took great pleasure in buying things for her son and daughter-in-law that would make their lives easier – things that perhaps she recognized might have made her own life easier, especially in the kitchen. She believed in hard work, had a strong, independent spirit, and endured the passing of her husband and son with tremendous fortitude.

Mattie took the ultimate hike on her own terms and will be deeply, deeply missed.

Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. EDT on July 29, with a funeral ceremony starting at 11 a.m. EDT at St. Joseph Funeral Home in South Bend, Indiana. Committal services will take place that afternoon at Violett Cemetery in Goshen, Indiana, at 12:30 p.m. For those family and friends who are unable to attend in person, the funeral ceremony will be livestreamed on Zoom with the information below. A recording of the service will be available at a later date.

Donations in honor of Mattie L. Prchlik may be made to Disabled American Veterans. Condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net.

Zoom meeting: Mattie Prchlik Funeral Service, 11 a.m. July 29; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5742884685?pwd=cFZXOTU4dlY2bnRmWWxKNm5PZjZIZz09; meeting ID 574 288 4685; passcode 5742884685.