Ellen C. Kaniuga

Ellen C. Kaniuga, 96, of Dowagiac, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2019 at Cass County Medical Facility in Cassopolis. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am, Monday, October 21, 2019 at Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church, 210 N. Front St., Dowagiac, MI. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Those wishing to leave a condolence online may do so at www.clarkch.com. Ellen was born August 7, 1923 in Chicago to Arthur and Constance (nee Sertzel) Kraemer. Prior to marriage, Ellen studied at the Chicago Art Institute and managed classified patent files for the SEC during WW2. She married Stephen Kaniuga on October 20, 1944 in Chicago and moved to Dowagiac Michigan where they had lived since. In her younger years she created lures and did administrative work at James Heddon and Sons Lures. In her later years, she was a substitute teacher at Patrick Hamilton School and worked in the Catholic Church Rectory. Ellen was a very talented artist, which she passed on to her children, as well as her grandchildren, who all share her love of the arts, whether it is drawing or music. She also enjoyed church choir, gardening, nature exploration, bargain hunting and political discussion. Ellen is survived by her children, John (partner, Martha Donlan) Kaniuga, Patricia (the late Donald) Stockton, James Kaniuga, Joseph (Molly) Kaniuga, Steven Kaniuga, Gregory (Pamela) Kaniuga, and Robert Kaniuga; her grandchildren, Richard, Andrea, David, Geoffrey, Michael, Trent, John, Justin, Jason, Ryan and Sean; and five great grandchildren: Julian, Lainie, Gavin, Parker, and Maisie. She is preceded in death by her husband, Stephen; and her siblings, Arthur, Leonard, and Florence Kraemer.