Ruth Marie “Babe” (Shultz) Poparad

Ruth Marie “Babe” Poparad Obituary

       Mother, Grandma, Aunt Babe Poparad, age 101 of Porter, Indiana, passed away peacefully in her home on March 28, 2024.  She was born June 8, 1922 in Porter.  She is survived by her sister, Alberta “Jean” Ellis, son Paul (Mary Ann) Poparad, daughter-in-law Betsy Poparad, four grandchildren Amanda (Ben) McDaniel, David (Mary Ann) Poparad, Nathaniel (Nancy) Poparad, Benjamin (Natacia) Poparad, thirteen great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

       Preceding her into death:   her parents Theodore and Edith Michaels Shultz La Hayne, her husband of 50 years Nicola Poparad, her companion of 23 years John Peksenak, her son Craig Poparad, four siblings Theodora La Hayne, Anna (Oscar) Johnson, Leona (William) Sievert, Clarence (Dorothy) Shultz and all of her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

       Babe devoted her life to family and serving others.  She thoroughly enjoyed socializing, dancing and toasting with a beer. She so treasured family gatherings.  She took great delight in tending and harvesting her large garden, canning fruits and vegetables, cooking Romanian dishes such as cabbage biscuits, sauerkraut, bean soup, breads and pastries.

       Babe was a life-long member of the First United Methodist Church of Porter, the Daughters of Rebekah, and the Ladies of the Moose.  She actively supported the VFW Post 2511 and the American Legion Post 170.  For many years she supplied gallons of her popular coleslaw for VFW Friday fish fry dinners.  She volunteered and served on various civic and church committees, Town of Porter Park Board and served as Fourth of July Parade Marshal.   Until very recently, she participated in weekly activities at the Duneland Seniors Activity Center, Porter, IN. 

       After nearly 40 years at the age of 97, Babe retired as the beloved Crossing Guard at Yost Elementary School having ushered generations of students and staff in and out of school each day.  She recalled memories of students asking for her hand in marriage, fussing with each other, and motorists who were considerate and others who ignored her stop sign.  Given the chance, she vowed to give careless drivers “what-for” and a lesson in reading her sign S-T-O-P!

       A weather protected bench and canopy labeled “Babe’s Corner” was built at the Yost School corner crossing in recognition of her years of faithful service.   In 2017, before the Porter Town Council, the Porter County Sheriff deputized Ruth “Babe” Poparad an honorary Sheriff’s Deputy. 

       After interviewing Babe in 2017 as a nonagenarian,  Post-Tribune freelance columnist noted “There is something poetic about all that [her life].  Hope springs eternal.”   

       The family is sincerely grateful to the staff of St. Agnes Adult Day Care Center,  Dunes Hospice Foundation,   VNA Hospice NWI and the VNA Foundation and prefers memorial donations to these foundations in lieu of flowers. 

       Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 11 a.m. at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S 2nd St., Chesterton, IN with Pastor G Thomas Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Chesterton Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Please share your wonderful memories with the family at: www.whitelovefuneralhome.com.

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