Category: Merrillville Obituaries

Mercedes Diaz went to be with the Lord on April 16, 2022, at the age of 92 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on October 26, 1929, in Gary,

Angelica Mattull, 43, of Merrillville, passed away on April 11, 2022. Angelica is survived by her husband, John Stofko; daughters Caroline Mattull, Gianna Reyna, Marietta Stofko; son-in-law Cameron Smith; brothers Martin Reynoso and Jesse Reynoso; sisters Regina Orr, Jessica Reynoso (Matos), Vanessa Baker, Christina Reynoso, Deanna Reynoso, Cecelia Reynoso, Cathlena Reynoso; four grandchildren Anaya, Nyomi, Nayelli, and Vincent Smith.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jesse R. Reynoso and Victoria L. Mattull.
Angelica studied at Purdue University and Sawyer business school. She retired from work as a licensed real estate agent/realtor. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 19, 2022, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St., Merrillville, IN 46410.

Isabel Vega, 98, recently of Lake Station, peacefully passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2022. She is survived by her beloved children: Eneida Batista, William (Patty) Vega, Milta Negron, Nancy (Steve) Hively, Jesse (Carmen) Vega, Jeannette Gonzales, and daughter-in-law Olivia Vega; many, many cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren, loving extended family; and dear friends. She is preceded in death by her sons: Jose and Antonio Vega; and son-in-law, Victor Negron. Isabel was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who will be truly missed by all whose lives she touched.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 18, 2022 at 6:00 PM at the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, (7535 Taft Street Merrillville, IN) with visitation from 3:00 until time of service. Interment and graveside service on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at Calumet Park Cemetery. Any friends and family wishing to attend the burial service is asked to line up at the funeral chapel at 10:30 Am in preparation for procession to the cemetery. For information, call (219) 736-5840.

Carmen Montanez, 81, of East Chicago, passed away April 8, 2022. A graveside committal service for cremation burial will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022. Procession line-up is at 12:30 PM at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St, Merrillville, IN 46410. Committal service to take place at Calumet Park Cemetery at 1:00 PM.

Mille Kokotovich (née Kuprešanin), age 92, passed away peacefully April 8, 2022. Mille was a life-long member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and its Circle of Serbian Sisters, Kolo Sestara.

She is preceded in death by her husband William Kokotovich; parents Dusan and Sofi Kuprešanin; and sister Ann Keprešanin Markovic.

Mille is survived by her 4 loving children, Dara (Tom) Perry, Vasilije (Mileva) Kokotovich, Desa Kokotovich- Halstead, Kevin (Betty) Kokotovich; beloved grandchildren, Timothy, Jacquelyn, Kristina, Nicole, Dustin, Aleksandra & Natalija;

cherished great-grandchildren, Matthew, Kalani, Aria, Lawson & Brynn; Nieces and Nephews, Chris, Karen & Sophie; and dear Kumovi Gerbick, Ivankovich, Rudman & Derado.

Visitation will begin at 9am on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church. Funeral service will begin at 11am at St. Sava with V. Rev. Marko Matic officiating. Public burial will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery. For further information please call Mileva at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel 219-736-5840.

Any expressions of sympathy including flowers, cards, or donations to the family in Mille’s loving memory are welcome.

Michael Demo, 66, of Merrillville, passed away April 7, 2022. Michael was born in Gary Indiana and was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Demo. Survived by his mother, Mary Demo; sister Rhonda (Javier) Reyes; brother Joe (Sue) Demo, 5 nieces and nephews, and 7 great nieces and nephews.
Mike worked in the construction business most of his life, he loved to travel and loved the state of Texas as well as the Dallas Cowboys, playing acoustic guitar, and music.
You will be deeply missed.
Friends are invited to meet with the family for a Memorial Gathering on Friday, April 29, 2022, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel. 7535 Taft St., Merrillville, IN 46410.

Alfred Eugene Gomez

Valparaiso, IN

Alfred Gomez, age 89, peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022 with his loving family by his side.  Alfred is survived by his

Douglas Richard Smith, 66, of Merrillville, passed away on Monday, April 4, 2022. He was born on January 18, 1956 to Gordon and Barbara Smith in Lafayette, Indiana.
Doug served 4 years in the US Army and then 18 years in the US Navy as a medic and surgical nurse. He was stationed at several bases, both stateside and overseas in Germany, Iceland, Japan, and South Korea. He served on the USS Nassau (LHA-4) amphibious assault ship as the operating nurse for President G. Bush when he went to Columbia, and for President Clinton when he went to Haiti.
After retiring from the Navy, Doug worked as a nurse for Hines VA Hospital in Chicago. He loved swimming, hiking, reading, and drinking coffee, and he especially enjoyed fishing and holidays with his family.
Doug is survived by his loving mother, Barbara; his beloved wife, Chong; dear brother and sister, Ron (Cathy) Smith and Diane (Brett) Dahlgren; cherished nephews and niece: Levi (Rachel) Cowsert, Taylor Smith, Zachary Smith, Carter Dahlgren, Preston Smith, and Brittania Dahlgren; and great-nephew, Rhett.
He is preceded in death by his father, Lt. Col. Gordon Smith and grandmother, Alta Smith.
Doug was a wonderful son, husband, brother, and uncle who will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel (7535 Taft Street, Merrillville, Indiana) on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 12:30 with visitation from 11:00 until time of service. Pastor Marks Adams officiating. Military burial to follow at Calumet Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

Booker T. Lewis was born September 29, 1926, on the Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tennessee to the union of sharecroppers Charlie Lewis and Betty Price Lewis. He was the second child of nine siblings.  Booker completed the sixth grade at the local elementary school.  Booker accepted Christ at an early age.

In 1944, Booker moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he lived with his maternal aunt and uncle, Georgia Price Bunton and Pete Bunton. He held several jobs in Cincinnati until he joined the United States Army in 1950.  During his service with the United States Army, he served in the Korean War where he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in charge of the Motor Pool Mechanics.  He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1952.

Booker then moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1952 where he lived with his paternal aunt and uncle Velma Lewis Mason and Tom Mason. There, he worked temporary jobs at and around the Chicago Stock Yards until he found his dream job.

In 1953, Booker began employment as a machine mechanic with People’s Gas Light and Coke Company of Chicago, where he operated an air jack hammer for the street work crews. He loved his job and the fellowship of his coworkers. He was always willing to take additional assignments for over-time and worked many of his off days.  He was so energetic and enthusiastic about his work, his co-workers nicknamed him “Jitter Bug”.

In 1954, Booker met and married Waurene Reaves. Waurene was the love of his life. To this union two children were born: Steven and Maurice.  He had a deep sense of family.  During the early years, he and his family visited their extended family every week.  Booker, Waurene, and the kids were always present for weddings, funerals, and family holiday gatherings wherever and whenever the family called.

In 1963 he was promoted to Number one Mechanic (Lead Mechanic) by People’s Gas, and iIn 1972 he received his General Education Diploma from Chicago Public Schools.  Booker was then promoted to Foreman for one of People’s Gas Emergency Street Gang Crews.  Booker’s team repaired natural gas leaks and initiated the installation of new gas pipe infrastructure for the Southside Chicago area. Booker retired from People’s Gas in 1987. In 1989 Booker began employment with the Chicago Housing Authority as a Maintenance Mechanic for the Chicago Housing Project Developments.   He then retired from the Chicago Housing Authority in 2001.

Booker loved sports and sporting events. His favorite team was the Chicago White Sox.  He followed them from Manager Paul Richards to Manager Tony La Russa.  He often took the family to the Chicago White Sox home games to watch them play.  Booker coached and managed the neighborhood little league teams for five years.

In 1983 Booker was baptized again and joined the Stony Island Church of Christ and was an active member in the church.  He led rehabilitation projects for the church building repairs and scheduled maintenance. He maintained his membership at the church until 2015.  Booker and Waurene moved their membership to the Merrillville, Indiana Church of Christ in 2015.

He is preceded in death by his parents:  Charlie and Betty Lewis; and siblings: Elbe, Amanda, Lorene, Jesse, Joseph, George, Roger.

Booker is survived by his beloved wife Waurene; loving sons: Steven (Angela) of Merrillville, Indiana and Maurice (Tracey) of Covington, Georgia; his sister, Dorothy Rose of Bolivar Tennessee; sister-in law, Floy Jean Brinkley of Country Club Hills, Illinois; brother-in-law Ransom (Virgnia) Reaves of Memphis, Tennessee; cherished grandchildren:  Maurice (Ebony), Dominque, Shantehra, Angel, and Charles; treasured great grandchildren: Jasmyne, Justice, Janele, Jermiah, Keoni, and Kyndal; and dear Godchildren: Willie Ezell and Carol Ezell of Crown Point, Indiana.

Friends and family are invited to visit on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel (7535 Taft Street, Merrillville, Indiana).

Funeral services and military flag ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 1:00 PM, also at the chapel .  Private burial to take place at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.

Valorie Grant, “MawMaw”, age 68, passed away March 21,2022 at home, with her daughter. She is survived by her two daughters Paula Garrison (Mike), and 3 step children Tuesday Gomez (Bob), Garry, and Carrie Grant. She had 4 grandchildren; Bridgette (Danny), Brianna (Kris), Kourtney, and Jaden. And one step grandson Christopher. One Great Grandson Bennett, in addition to one on the way, Jessie.

Sisters; Veronica Kelly (Scott), Velinda Yockey (Brad), Brothers; Duane Bannister (Christy), Darrell Bannister, Paul LaPradd, Bob LaPradd (Tina), numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.