Notes for John Charles Sr. Chandonia

Notes for John Charles Sr. Chandonia

The following obituary for John C. Chandonia appeared in the South Bend Tribune, South Bend Indiana on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day of April 1948.
J.C. Chandonia Dies at age 61
A resident of this vicinity all of his life time John C. Chandonia, aged 61, of 1550 East Jefferson boulevard, died at 4 a.m. today at St. Joseph hospital. he had been in ill helath for the last year. Mr. Chandonia was born in South Bend, Dec. 27, 1886, and lived there until he moved to Mishawaka 45 years ago. He married Miss Marie Van Holsebeke in South Bend March 12, 1902. Mr. Chandonia had been employed by the Ball-Band plant for the last 46 years. Surviving are his widow; five sons, Kenneth J. and Virgil R. Chandonia, of Cleveland, Ohio; Roy Chandonia, of Lydick, Indiana, and Buford and John C. Chandonia, Jr. of Mishawaka; five daughers, Miss Helen Chandonia, of Cleveland; Mrs Lillian Buck and Mrs. Violet Bedner, of South Bend; Mrs. Nettie Smith of St. Joseph, Michigan, and Mrs. Maxine Schelle, of Mishawaka; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers William Chandonia, of South Bend, and Clarence Chandonia, of San Diego, CA, and three sisters, Mrs. Lillian Smith and Mrs. Helen Toward, of South Bend, and Mrs. Eulalia Granger, of Niles, Michigan. Friends may call at the Bubb Chapel after 7 p.m. today. Funeral services are incomplete.

Notes of Jo Shelle Sheldon:
John lived on rented land, a 10 acre subsistance farm. He raised vegetables and a few animals to feed his family. He was also a master shoemaker at Ball Band. This was in the days when footwear was made more by hand than machine. During WWII he made wet suits for Navy frogman. During the depression he did work. They would be told how many pairs of shoes to make each day and that is all they got paid for. He had a car but left for work the same time each day whether he was walking or driving. He believed in being on time.