Vilena Mae Hower

Vilena‎ Mae‎ Hower,‎ 91,‎ passed‎ away‎ on‎ Saturday,‎ January‎ 11,2020‎ at‎ the‎ Signature‎ Healthcare‎ Center‎ in‎ Fort‎ Wayne,‎ Indiana.

She was born on December 16, 1928 in Willshire, Ohio to Walter and Golda (Lowmiller) Avery. On October 13, 1947, she married Frech Milton Hower in Willshire, Ohio and he preceded her in death on May 21, 1974. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sons in infancy, Donnie and Ronnie Hower; three brothers, Robert, Richard, and Joe Avery; and a sister, Lois Hoffman.

Vilena‎ was‎ a‎ homemaker‎ and‎ resident‎ of‎ New‎ Haven,‎ Indiana‎ where‎ she‎ a‎ member‎ the‎ New‎ Haven‎ United‎ Methodist‎ Church.‎ She‎ loved‎ caring‎ for‎ her‎ family,‎ especially‎ her‎ grandchildren.‎ Vilena‎ will‎ be‎ fondly‎ remembered‎ for‎ her‎ home‎ cooked‎ meals‎ and‎ baked‎ goods‎ that‎ she‎ loved‎ to‎ share‎ with‎ family‎ and‎ friends.

She is survived by two daughters, Beverly Sue (David) Hewitt of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Rose Marie (David) Cook of Beckly, West Virginia; six grandchildren, Abi (Sean) Lynch, Daniel (Jennifer) Hewitt, Jennifer (Curt) Walker, Emily (John) Bartelt, Jodi (Jamie) Rodgers, and Jill (Patrick) Magee; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 18, 2020, at New Haven United Methodist Church located at 630 Lincoln Highway East in New Haven. Visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church. Pastor Chuck Fenwick will officiate. Burial will follow at Decatur Cemetery in Decatur, Indiana.

Memorials can be given to Friends of Russian Orphans located at 7557 Wind River Drive Sylvania, OH 46560 or via www.fororphans.org

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, Indiana.