Zita Anderson

Zita (Zmudzinski) Anderson, 83, of South Bend entered eternal rest on Monday morning, March 23, 2026, with family by her side. She was born in South Bend to the late Chester and Martha (Dalkowski) Zmudzinski, and married Lester Anderson, who also preceded her in death.

Surviving are their children, Tina Mathes-Anderson, Tim (Kathy Gee) Anderson, both of Mishawaka, and Brandon Anderson of Granger. Eight grandchildren, Tiffany Trembath, Kyle (Colleen) Krueger, Travis (Ali) Anderson, Macayla, Abigail, Zoe, Everly, and Gentry Anderson, and 5 great-grandchildren, Amelia Anderson, Kaitlin Trembath, and Olivia, Sofia, and William Krueger also survive, with Zita’s siblings Antoinette Gour and Kenneth Zmudzinski.

Zita faithfully served as a receptionist at St. Joseph Hospital until her retirement, where her presence made a lasting impact. Outside of work, she was a true social butterfly, joyful, outgoing, and known for bringing laughter and life to any gathering. She took pride in her appearance and was rarely seen without being thoughtfully put together, her lipstick always in place. Her greatest joy was her family. Zita loved attending her son’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, cheering them on from the sidelines. In her later years, she found peace tending to her flowers and landscaping, as well as crocheting and ceramics. A devoted member of Queen of Peace in Mishawaka, she also enjoyed shopping and had a special talent for refreshing her home with beautiful, welcoming touches. She will be greatly missed.

Cremation has taken place with a time to celebrate her life scheduled for April 17, 2026, from 5-7pm, with a brief Catholic homily beginning at 7, at Cruz Family Funeral Home, Osceola.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

To light a virtual candle, share a story of Zita’s life, or extend a message of comfort to her family, please visit the Guestbook.

Disclaimer: All obituaries published by Cruz Family Funeral Home are the intellectual property of Cruz Family Funeral Home. They may not be copied, edited, altered, reproduced, or scraped for use on any other website or platform without explicit written permission. Unauthorized use, duplication, or modification of any obituary content is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.