Janice Holmes

Janice "Mama" Sue Holmes, 71, wife of Timothy A. Holmes and long-time Churubusco restaurant owner and operator, passed away at 9:40 p. m. on Sunday, July 29, 2012, at her summer home at Blue Lake near Churubusco following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Holmes was born in Elkhart on October 24, 1940, a daughter of Lemuel Carl and Zaylia Bonnie (Girten) Gilbert, and most of her formative years there. She attended Elkhart High School, and graduated from Angola High School. On October 27, 1973 she was married in Elkhart to Timothy A. Holmes. The couple lived in Huntertown for a period, and opened Mama Sue's Restaurant in Churubusco in 1983. In 1984 they purchased the former Green Grill in Churubusco, and established Papa's Place in 1984, moving to Churubusco that same year. Along with her husband she co-owned and operated the restaurant for over 20 years, retiring in 2004. She was a member of the Churubusco United Methodist Church. The surviving relatives include her husband Tim; four sons Anthony (Sarah) Truax of Kendallville, Christopher (Tammy) Holmes of Elkhart, and Todd (Jen) Holmes and Timmy (Tera) Holmes, both of Churubusco; 19 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Jack Gilbert and Carl Gilbert. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Thursday, August 2, 2012, at the Churubusco United Methodist Church, with Pastor Corinne Boruff-Stucker, officiating. The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service Thursday morning. Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, south of Churubusco. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46814 or Arthritis Foundation, Northeastern Indiana Branch 4915 Illinois Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46804 ******************************