Phyllis Avina (Booher) Van Bruaene

Phyllis Avina (Booher) Van Bruaene, 92, of Mishawaka, IN, a graduate of Mishawaka High School, went home to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband Larry (also known as Laurence and Van). On April 13, 2021, at the Ernestine Raclin Hospice House in Mishawaka, IN she gracefully passed. She was born January 23, 1929, in Mishawaka to the late Robert and Edna Booher. Phyllis married Laurence, her high school sweetheart on June 27, 1946, after returning from the Philippines where he served in the Army Air Force in WWII.

Phyllis was highly competitive in her early days playing golf, bowling, and playing cards. During the summers she would go to the various Mishawaka parks to listen to band concerts and watch her husband play softball. Softball was also played by her husband and son in their living room at the expense of several lamps and knickknacks.

She enjoyed many years of working at Dodge Manufacturing rising to the level of executive secretary for manufacturing. After that, she went to work as a secretary at Trinetics.

As the family grew Phyllis, cross-stitched a picture with each great grandchild’s name, date of birth, and birth statistics. As time went on Phyllis and Larry took lessons and enjoyed ballroom and line dancing with their good friends. She became involved in flowers and gardening. She and her daughter, Sheila began dabbling in ceramics and craft making.  Going to and participating in many craft shows.

Phyllis’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her son, Steve Van Bruaene; and her daughter, Sheila (Payton) Fitterling. She in her later years appreciated the opportunity to go to Austin and Houston, Texas to see her four grandchildren, Tim and Paul Payton, Alicia Benrey, Jared Van Bruaene; and her twelve great-grandchildren.

Friends may visit on Tuesday, April 20, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street in Mishawaka. A graveside service will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Mishawaka at 11:00 am on Wed, April 21.  Due to current public health and safety standards, social distancing will be enforced and masks required.

Memorial contributions may be made in Phyllis’s memory to the Center for Hospice at 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545 and Pet Refuge at 4626 S. Burnett Dr. South Bend, IN 46614.

To leave the family an online condolence or to share memories with the family, please visit www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phyllis Avina (Booher) Van Bruaene, please visit our floral store.