Linda Janice DeBroka

Linda Janice DeBroka, age 79 years of Niles, Michigan; wife, mother, grandmother, and sister died Wednesday afternoon, October 25, 2023 with her family gathered around at Center for Hospice in Mishawaka, Indiana following an extended illness.

She was born on March 8, 1944 in Tinsman, Arkansas to Lawrence G. and Gladys A. (Payne) Bryant, and moved as a young child with her family to Niles.  She graduated the first class in 1963 of Brandywine High School.  She began her long career in banking as a teller from former First National Bank of Southwestern Michigan, and its successor, Fifth-Third Bank, and ultimately becoming the branch manager.  She chose a different career path with the opportunity to be a teller at Teachers Credit Union (now Everwise) at multiple different branch locations throughout the Mishawaka and South Bend Community. Linda ultimately found her branch home at the Granger TCU where she remained for years until her retirement.  She absolutely loved the members that frequent this location.  It was no surprise that Linda would receive handwritten thank you cards and letters throughout her tenure from members grateful and appreciative of her willingness, time, care, and concern for their money and investments as she would her own.  Linda also became fast friends with her co-workers here.  One special girl in particular was Melissa Connelly, in fact Linda thought so highly of Melissa she introduced her to her older son, Sean.  They have been together now for 24 years.  Linda was very proud of this, and didn’t mind taking the credit and happily letting others know.

Linda was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish Community in Edwardsburg, Michigan.  She was active in Milton Township leadership politics, being elected to several terms as Treasurer.

She was a dedicated sports mom of 4 children, that never missed a game.  Not only was Linda mothering to her own children, there are countless others that cherished Linda’s love for them.  It was recently shared by dozens of her children’s friends that she not only opened her home.  There was no shortage of love, home-cooked meals, and little life lessons.  Linda was very stubborn and insistent that Sundays were reserved for dinner to continue a family tradition.  However, the place setting was never just set for her family of six.  Linda always made sure that there was plenty of food and room for all.  That dinner was a special event, as she was a great cook, making an amazing fried chicken with milk gravy, a mashed-potato salad unique to her kitchen, and a recipe for deviled eggs that was highly sought-after, but never shared.

On June 26, 1971 at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles she married David Lee DeBroka, with whom she celebrated last summer the remarkable fifty-second anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, David DeBroka and their children, Sean (& Melissa) DeBroka of Niles, Danika (& John) Shipman of Pottsboro, Texas, Danielle (& Charlie) VanVorst of Niles, and Derek (& Mandi Kohler) DeBroka of Mishawaka; grandchildren Taylor (& Danielle) Reynolds, Dyllan Elder (& Fallon Horvath), Ashli Rand, Hayli Rand, Tyson Gropp, Harlow Gropp, Zachary DeBroka Hayden Gropp, and twins Lucas and Gabriel DeBroka; Linda’s sister, Lori (& Steve) King of Winter Haven, Florida, and several nieces and nephews including “The Chrises”, Chris Wilson and Chris Flanagan who both were devoted to Linda and her extensive “Chris List” that never seemed to end.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Jerry Lee Wilson who died on December 2, 1997.

The family viewing for relatives and friends will be held Wednesday, November 1^st 5 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, Michigan with recitation of the Rosary at 7:30 p.m.

On Thursday, November 2^nd Our Lady of Lake Church at 10 a.m. viewing for family and friends followed by Mass at 11 a.m. Our Lady of Lake Catholic Parish located in Edwardsburg, Michigan by the Rev. Robert Flickinger.  Committal Rites will follow at the Smith’s Chapel located at 29858 Redfield Road, Niles, Michigan.

Contributions in memory of Linda may be made to Our Lady of the Lake Parish, https://www.ourladyedwardsburg.org/.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

In Loving Memory of Linda DeBroka:

  A mother gives her children

      stepping stones to the stars

       Her love is unconditional,

         her heart has no bars.

You will be forever missed.