In Memory
Ora Lee (Benko) Crowel
July 11, 1930 ~ January 20, 2025
Ora Lee (Benko) Crowel, 94, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2025, at North Woods Village in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Ora Lee was born July 11, 1930 in South Bend, IN to Joseph and Drama Ulee Benko. She was raised in South Bend with her three siblings; Bob, Dick and Rosemary. She attended Riley High School, where she was very active. In 1949, she was voted prom queen and was crowned alongside her future husband, Jack Crowel, who was named prom king. After high school, Ora Lee worked as a comptometer operator at Studebaker.
In 1950, she married Jack Crowel. Ora Lee and Jack had three children; Kay Jo, Karen, and Kurt.
Ora Lee will be remembered as a strong and loving woman, determined to always provide the best for her family and giving much of her time to others. Ora Lee devoted herself to maintaining the family home and raising her children. She made sure everything ran smoothly- cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, and even sewing clothing for her family. She took pride in her home and enjoyed activities like mowing the lawn (in golf shoes to avoid falling down the hill!) and gardening.
Outside the home, Ora Lee always found time to participate in many activities. This long list includes painting classes, sewing classes, and golf. She was also involved in the Elks Club and Corvette Club. She was also a proud member of the “Cousins Club”. She was the ultimate party host, and enjoyed dancing, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
Ora Lee was very generous and supported many local organizations, including, food banks, veterans organizations and women’s groups.
As Jack's wife, Ora Lee played an important role in managing the family in both of the Crowel family businesses, Hillview Dairy and Asphalt Engineers. Ora Lee and Jack wintered for many years in Bonita Springs and Naples, Florida.
Ora Lee is survived by her children, Kay Jo Crowel and Karen (Mark) Keesey; daughter in law, Denise Crowel; grandchildren, Kirsten Carelli, Colin (Jamie) Crowel, Rachel Keesey, and Alison (Sam) Logan; sister, Rosemary (Bob) McCloughan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Crowel; her son, Kurtis Crowel; brothers, Bob Benko and Dick Benko.
Visitation will be held Saturday, February 1st from 2-4 PM at Zahoran Funeral Home.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday February 1st at 4PM at Zahoran Funeral Home 1826 Kemble Ave. South Bend.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your favorite charity.
The family would like to thank everyone at North Woods Village and Hospice Traditions for the exceptional care they gave our mother/ nanny during her final days.
01/24/2025 djb
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