Rochelle Dolde

1937 - 2024

Rochelle (Evard) Dolde, 86, of Elkhart, passed to her rest on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 24, 1937, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Frank and Edna (Mohn) Evard. Rochelle married Edward "Bill" Dolde on July 2, 1960, and they were married 58 years before his passing in 2019.

She lived most of her life in the Michiana area, a majority being in Edwardsburg in the house she and Bill built. Most recently she resided at Brentwood Independent Living in Elkhart, where she enjoyed the staff, activities and spending time with new friends.

Rochelle will be remembered as a very loving and giving person. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years and provided much loving support to her girls. She led Indian Guides and Girl Scouts, taught Sunday school and Bible school, and never missed a sporting or band event her girls participated in. She adored her girls, but she always wanted a boy. She felt very blessed to get her two boys when her daughters married. She was a great caregiver, caring for both her mother and Bill's mother and also a dear friend. Rochelle was very devoted to her church, volunteering with bulletins, serving as co-director of funeral dinners, and continuing to teach Sunday school and Bible school well into her senior years. She greatly missed going to church when she was no longer able.

During her time at home, she owned and operated Rochelle's Ceramic Studio out of her basement. When the business expanded and could no longer fit in the basement, she closed up shop and started working at The Selmer Company where she worked for 21 years, before retiring in 1999.

Rochelle was a great friend to many and participated in many clubs and groups: euchre, pinochle, bowling, golf, Red Hat Society and "the fireplace group" at Brentwood to name a few. She will be missed by many.

Surviving are her two daughters and their husbands, Sandy (Joe) Motyl of Westford, Massachusettes, and Teri (Bud) McCreary of Edwardsburg. She also leaves behind five grandchildren, Andrea (Billy) Whalen, Ryan Motyl, Eric McCreary, Joshua (Sunday) McCreary and Stephanie McCreary, as well as six great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers: William Evard, Ronald Evard and Thomas Evard.

All services will be held at Hope United Methodist Church, 69941 Elkhart Road, Edwardsburg. Family and friends may gather on Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. The Service of Remembrance will be officiated by a family friend, the Rev. Brenda Gordon, on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m. All may gather one hour prior to the service. Cremation will take place at a later date. A private burial will also take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Hope United Methodist Church or to Elara Caring Hospice, 6120 Stadium Drive, Suite 100, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.

Arrangements are by the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg.