Clay 1977 Gretchen Sue (Hogan) Toles

Jan. 22, 1959 - Aug. 31, 2017

SOUTH BEND, IN - Gretchen Sue Toles, age 58, of Chesterton, IN passed away in her home on August 31st after a prolonged illness. She was born in South Bend, IN on January 22, 1959, to Hugh and Helen (Kale) Hogan. Gretchen was proceeded in death by Terry Hogan (brother) and parents Hugh and Helen Hogan.

Gretchen lived in South Bend where she met and married her life-long love Marc Allyn Toles. They moved with their children to Chesterton in 1995 where she lived the rest of her life. Gretchen and Marc were married at Community Congregational Church on June 23, 1979. This happy union produced three children: Jessica Baldwin (Jamie), Lyndsey Fernandez (Nicholas) and Sara Hoyt (Jonas) as well as eight grandchildren: Evelyn, Dax and Elliott Baldwin, Vivian, Joseph and Layla Fernandez and Lucille and Penelope Hoyt.

Gretchen graduated from Clay High School in 1977. She backpacked all over the United States and much of Europe with the Girl Scouts. She briefly attended Indiana University to study Art History, but decided love couldn't wait. For twenty years Gretchen was a loving homemaker and brilliant cook whose recipe for molasses cookies could make even the toughest day better. After raising her three girls, Gretchen embraced her artistic passion and embarked on a career in graphic design and photography. Like everything else in her life, she accomplished these goals with the grace and persistence that would be the hallmark of her life.

Visitation will be held at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 South Second Street, Chesterton, IN at 11:00AM with services to follow at 12:00 PM on Saturday September 9, 2017. The family asks that donations to The Association for Frontotemporal Degenteration (theaftd.org) be considered in lieu of or in addition to flowers. Memories may be shared at: www.whitelovefuneralhome.com.

“I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) I am never without it(anywhere I go You go, my dear, and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling).”

Published in South Bend Tribune on Sept. 7, 2017

jmc 7 sep 2017