Carolyn Szucs

Carolyn Sue Szucs, age 77 years, formerly of Niles, Michigan; wife, mother, grandmother, pet parent, farmer, and devout Catholic died peacefully at 5:10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 with her closest family gathered around her bedside at her home in South Bend, Indiana following a fierce four-year battle to beat the sad diagnoses.

She was born on February 22, 1947 in Niles to Joseph and Bertha “Mickey” (Hydorn) Saratore, Jr., and was graduated from Niles High School.  She was employed at the former Niles warehouse of AT&T Consumer Products on U.S.12 for twenty-two years until the business moved.  She continued to work at various area businesses until her health declined.

Carolyn was a member of the Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Niles where she had been baptized as an infant, and was a friend of her neighbors in the Monastery of the Handmaids of the Most Holy Trinity.  She maintained a garden outside of her home, and also practiced interior decorating to keep the inside of the home attractive and inviting.  She helped her husband maintain a small herd of cattle, and she looked-after a significant flock of chickens, becoming known as the “Egg Lady” of her neighborhood.  She loved her ‘fur baby’, Beau, but her greatest interest was her family. 

While employed as a hostess at the Prime Table restaurant, she met a guest diner, David.  Later, on April 13, 2013 she married David K. Szucs who survives her along with her immediate family, her children, Sean (& Joanna) Haynes of Goshen, Indiana, and Kelley S. (& Bill) Ruth of Niles; grandchildren, Zachary (& Jordan) Haynes, Jacob Ruth, and Allysa (& Caleb) Lainez; and great-grandchildren, Blake Haynes and Charlotte Haynes. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Mickey Saratore, Jr.

The Memorial Service for Carolyn Szucs will be held at the Handmaids of the Most Holy Trinity at a later date, which will be announced on this site.   Committal Rites will be private at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.  Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Carolyn may be made to the Handmaids of the Most Holy Trinity, 23089 Adams Road, South Bend, Indiana 46628.  Online condolences and memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Carolyn’s philosophy – and practice – was simple: Love God; honor your mother and father; her children are #1, but second to her husband, Dave.