PERU - Loretta Evelyn Owen Comerford, 86, formerly of Peru, died at 12:10 p.m. Aug. 20, 2007, in Timbercrest Health Center, North Manchester, after a 17-month stay.
She was born Sept. 23, 1920, in Peru, to Charles Ellis and Cornelia Loretta Balter Owen. On Nov. 4, 1942, she married Robert Eugene Comerford, who died Sept. 10, 2001. They had been married 39 years before their divorce. The past nine years her dear friend Edward "Eddie" Henry Miller, Peru, has been at her side.
Raised on 13th Street in Peru, she moved to 12th Street when she married and resided there for 63 years. She wintered in Leesburg, Fla., for 40 years.
She was an only child until 15 years of age, when her 6-year-old cousin, Warren "Jack" Curtis, came to live with the family. For 30 years of her adult life, Rollan H. Sutherly was her stepfather.
She was a 1938 Peru High School graduate and enjoyed taking art classes at the community college of Leesburg, Fla., in her latter years. She was a homemaker, collected antique and clocks, enjoyed gardening (especially her black raspberries) and was an enthusiastic artist of water colors, pastes, chalks and oils.
She was a member of First Baptist Church, Peru; Peru Art Guild; Pink Ladies of Duke Hospital; and was an Avon representative in her retirement years.
For her children she served as Scout leader, PTO member, seamstress, pie baker and constant supporter of their activities and education.
Surviving are a son, James R. (and wife Patty) Comerford, Troy, Ohio; a daughter, Sharon Sucec, Warsaw; six grandchildren: Mrs. Dan (Jill) Schreiber, Champaign, Ill.; Bradley (and wife Tami) Comerford, Boston, Mass.; Mrs. Marcus (Julie) Johnston, Glen Ellyn, Ill.; Brendan (and wife Christy) Comerford, Yellow Springs, Ohio; Jason (and wife Laura) Sucec, Indianapolis; and Mrs. Joseph (Shannon) Stahl, Cincinnati, Ohio; 13 great-grandchildren: Chloe, Jasmine and Anthony Schreiber; Meredith, Morgan, Mallory, Cecilia and Ella Kay Comerford; Britta, Jeffery and Karina Johnston; and Aiyanna and Jaiden Sucec. She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter-in-law, Sandra Comerford.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 W. Main, Peru, with Pastor Robert Adelsperger officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. today and one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
