Margaret Chmiel

Margaret F. Chmiel, age 82 years of Niles, Michigan died on Friday, June 17, 2016 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born November 19, 1933 in Buffalo, New York to Charles and Ruby (Thompson) Fox.

In 1955, Margaret graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Margaret maintained a beautiful flower garden, often telling her children that when she gets to heaven, there will be no weeds in her garden. Margaret had quite a sense of humor and enjoyed reading the comics from the daily paper with her coffee and toast each morning. She loved singing and was involved in the choir at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles and also Saint Pius X Catholic Church in Granger. Margaret also had a passion for reading, and passed this trait along to her children. She also spent many years and much time volunteering for the Pet Refuge in South Bend.

On April 14, 1956 in Lackawanna, New York, Margaret married Chester T. Chmiel with whom she celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary, before his death on April 6, 2009.

Surviving family includes their children, Stephanie (& Denise Patzsch) Chmiel of Gladys, Virginia, Catherine (& Kenneth) Chmiel-Goetzinger of Selma, Indiana, Carolyn (& Michael Harris) Chmiel of Evanston, Illinois, Gerri (& Mark Campbell) Chmiel of Cincinnati, Ohio and Gregory Chmiel of West Lafayette, Indiana; three grandchildren, Sean and Dylan Harris and Colin Campbell and one sister, Janet (& Ernest) Stockhoff of West Grove, Pennsylvania.

The Catholic Funeral Liturgy for Margaret F. Chmiel will be read at 11:00a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 by the Rev. David Otto of Niles at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home from 6-8:00p.m. on Tuesday. Donations in memory of Margaret may be made to either Pet Refuge, Hospice at Home or to the Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve in Niles.