Lynne DEPAEPE

6 OCT 1956 - 5 FEB 2018

• BIRTH: 6 OCT 1956, Wichita, KS
• DEATH: 5 FEB 2018, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 23 NOV 1991

INDEX

[N2465] Lynne DePaepe Howard
Oct. 6, 1956 - Feb. 5, 2018
SOUTH BEND - Lynne Mary Howard was born October 6, 1956 in Wichita, KS as the first of 5 children to Lt. Col. William Cyril DePaepe USAF and Ruth Ann (Laskowski) DePaepe. She left us to eternally join our parents on February 5, 2018. Her husband and siblings' faces were the last ones she saw. Their voices, the last ones she heard. A complication from Diabetes was the thief. On November 23, 1991 Lynne married Donald H. Howard Jr. Her family is her sister, Janet A. (Michael) Wozniak; brothers, Richard C. DePaepe, Robert E. (JoEllen) DePaepe, and Terry P. DePaepe; niece, Kelsey DePaepe; and nephew, Christopher DePaepe, all of South Bend, IN. One aunt and numerous cousins on our mother's side, and four of Don's sisters also survive her. Graduating from South Dade High School in Homestead, FL, the family returned, in 1974 to William and Ruth's home town of South Bend, IN after Williams's untimely passing. Lynne went on to graduate from Michiana College of Commerce with an accounting/business degree, pursuing employment along those lines. Lynne and Don established and operated an embroidery company, Sew Country, located in the old Drewry's building. Being reared in a military family meant traveling and living all over the world. Lynne took her position as the oldest seriously and was the anchor of communications with relatives, as well as neighbors and friends obtained while living in various states and abroad. Hobbies and interests? She was an avid reader and a true crime novel enthusiast. She loved to play cards and board games at family gatherings or entertaining in her home. Her cousin, Mark Szymanski and his wife, Terry were frequent and very much loved playing partners. In the last months of Lynne's life she found PACE. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time at their community center, playing cards, laughing, and, if only for a short time, letting go of life's struggles. If she were writing this she would throw out a huge THANK YOU to the folks who run and volunteer for the PACE organization. From her family - Thank you PACE. And then there's her husband and best friend, Don. He loves her, took care of her, and now mourns her passing. With the companionship of their feline houseguest Elsie, Don will forever cherish the memories of their life together. Any donations in Lynne's name should be directed to organizations striving for the betterment of our four-legged friends.
Per Lynne's wish to slip into the heavens quietly and without fanfare, there will be no services. Cremation has taken place. Elkhart Cremation Services is entrusted with her arrangements. Published in South Bend Tribune on Feb. 11, 2018