Candace "Candy" Hornberger

Candace "Candy" Hornberger, of Mishawaka, 76, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at home, surrounded by her loving husband and her three children.

Candy was born on December 28, 1942, in New York City, New York to Martin and Elizabeth (Shields) Chin. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Pamela Ontengco. Candy graduated in 1960 from Charles Evans Hughes High School and attended Ivy Tech.  On June 29, 1962, she married the love of her life Paul " Ray" Hornberger Sr.

Ray survives her along with her children, Serene (Scott) Keen, Candy (Brian) Jackson and Paul (Sherri Cruz) Hornberger Jr.; her sisters, Serene Mazzella, Cheryl (Randy) Greene, and Starr Bawab; her grandchildren, Paul Hornberger III, Joe Keen, Ridge Jackson, Drake Jackson, Dane Jackson, and Sage Jackson, and her great-grandchild, Austin Keen, as well as many extended family members.

Candy and Ray met on a blind date and fell in love at first sight.  Ray, a Navy man, even asked her to marry him one week later!  Immediately, she felt that Ray was her protector, and that feeling never, ever vanished.

Candy and Ray are co-owners of Hornberger & Co., LLC for over 30 years.  They sold candy and snack foods to various retailers and military exchanges and the Navy ship stores.  They enjoyed traveling together to the military bases and selling their products that were very well received.  They were a great team.

Candy loved her patio garden and her colorful flowers. She enjoyed spending time in her patio garden, watering and talking to her plants. She loved the beauty and fragrance of her peonies and gardenias. It was a colorful garden with her beautiful butterflies.  In 2009, her patio garden won first place in the patio contest where she lived.  When she lived in the country, she loved her vegetable garden and grew many vegetables, even bok choy, and peapods with her dad.  Candy enjoyed cooking. Candy also was an artist and would paint pictures of her flowers and portraits of her children.  Her work was so colorful, as was she.

Candy was devoted to her family.  She loved the holiday season and would always make it so special, from the meals, desserts, the decorations, to the table and music.  She would spend time at the lake with her family (never went in the water though).  She enjoyed attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events (as a young girl, she loved to attend the Yankees games and loved Mickey Mantle).  She was always there for special life events.  One of her bucket list items was to meet her great-grandchild, Austin, and she did recently, and they were both so happy together.

Candy was always so positive, even during her 5-year battle with cancer, but never complained, and fought her courageous battle with strength and dignity.  Her friends always said Candy was a very good listener and positive person and would help them out with their problems.  Candy never said a bad word about anyone and had many, many friends.  She was a loving person and was loved by everyone. Candy most recently said that she lived a very blessed life and had so many happy memories.  She had a strong faith in God and even at the end of her days, she still felt very blessed and was not afraid to go; she knew she was going to a better place.  She wants us all to know that she will see us again, that she is at peace, and she is with God.

A memorial service honoring Candy’s life will be held on Monday, July 22 at 11:00 AM, at Fairview Cemetery in front of the columbarium.  In honor of Candy, please wear bright, colorful clothing, as she so loved color. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her to Riverbend Cancer Services, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN  46615.  To leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.

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