Edna PURCELL

14 MAR 1948 - 1 FEB 2017

• BIRTH: 14 MAR 1948, South Bend, IN
• DEATH: 1 FEB 2017, Porter Regional Hospital, Valparaiso, IN

• MARRIAGE: 31 AUG 1968, St Joseph County Indiana

1.  Andrew Joseph KOSIK

• MARRIAGE: 24 MAY 1991, St Joseph County Indiana

INDEX

[N16161] Edna J. Christiana
March 14, 1948 - Feb. 1, 2017
SOUTH BEND - Edna Jean Christiana, 68, of South Bend, died Wednesday, February 1st, in Porter Regional Hospital, Valparaiso. Edna was born March 14, 1948, in South Bend, to the late Gloria E. (Moss) and Edward E. Purcell, and was a lifetime area resident. On May 24, 1991, in South Bend as Edna J. Kosik, she married Ronald W. Christiana, who preceded her in death July 3, 2014. She was also preceded in death by a stepson, Stuart Christiana. She is survived by her son, Andrew J. Kosik of South Bend; granddog, Holden James; siblings, Barbara E. Brown (Terry) of Circleville, OH, and Edward E. Purcell, Jr. of Canton, MI; nephews, Brian Purcell (Meghan) and Nathan Purcell; and stepchildren, Yvonne “Bunny” Giddens (Joseph) of Ponder, TX, Crystal Star Bolin of Texas City, TX, Stephen Christiana of Ft. Worth, TX, and Ronald W. Christiana, Jr. (Jenni) of South Bend. Edna's passion was working with children, photography and crafts. She was very proud of her 25 years as a para-professional working with children with autism for the South Bend Community School Corporation. She was affectionately known to her students as “Mrs. C” and “Miss Edna.” She was always on the hunt for a new craft or idea and often purchased items to share with “her kids.” She dedicated many hours each school year taking photographs of students and activities to contribute to several year books published at Dickinson and Navarre Middle Schools. Christmas was her favorite holiday as she would make batches of candy treats to share with her students, co-workers, and family. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 6th, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St., with Rev. Roger Christiana officiating. Committal services and burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Monday from 11 a.m. until the time of the services. Memorial contributions in Edna's name may be made to Autism Speaks, ATTN Web Gift, 1060 State Rd., 2nd Floor, Princeton, NJ, 08540. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com. Published in South Bend Tribune on Feb. 5, 2017