Phyllis A. Heyde

Phyllis Ann (Coffel) Heyde, age 98, of Bremen passed away peacefully at the Ernestine Raclin Hospice House in Mishawaka on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

Phyllis was born on December 3, 1926, the daughter of the late Leslie and Bernadean (Ahler) Coffel. She was a lifetime resident of Bremen. On June 7, 1947, she married Noble Heyde at St. Michael Catholic Church in Plymouth. Together they were blessed with five children – Paul (Debbie) Heyde of The Woodlands, TX; Rick (Pamela) Heyde of Kentland, IN; Mark (Kelly) Heyde of Bremen; Bill (Carolyn) Heyde of Bremen; and Rita (Vaughn) Smith of Elkhart. She is also survived by a step sister-in-law, Betty Elridge of Francesville, IN

Phyllis is also blessed with 13 grandchildren – Keenan (Diana) Heyde, Sybil (Eric) Belcher, Rachel Heyde, Brandy (Shawn) Montague, Brooke Linn, Brianne (Andrew) Schutter, Joshua (Tricia) Heyde, Nathan Heyde, Lucas (Jacqueline) Heyde, John (Lauren) Dudeck, Nicholas (Lisa) Dudeck, Scott (Vicki) Smith and Todd Smith; and 22 great-grandchildren – Duncan, Gweneth, Frederic, Josephine, Miya, Bauer, Noah, Harper, Kade, Daxon, Kemp, Ani, Kendal, Parker, Sawyer, Collin, Nick, Emily, Andrew, Katelyn, Elsie and Daisy.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Bernadean, her husband, Noble, her two brothers, James and Raymond, her two sisters, Mary and Ruth,  and infant brother, Paul, her step brother, Glenn Elridge, her daughter-in-law, Debbie, and her grandson, Nathan.

Her first job was at the hotel café coffee shop in Bremen, where she took her tip money to the bank every week. While raising her family, she worked at United Foam in Bremen and for Dr. Charles Hassel, DDS until retirement. She was a long-time member of St. Dominic Catholic Church where she taught religion classes to the primary grades, was a member of Eucharistic Ministries that visited the sick, administered Holy Communion and was a member of the Altar Rosary Society. She was also a member of the Bremen Hospital Auxiliary, Tri Kappa, bowling leagues, and volunteered in the hospital gift shop and food bank in Bremen.

Phyllis and Noble were both avid collectors of antique furniture, dolls (Phyllis had an impressive collection of antique dolls), antique toys and antique cars. They belonged to an antique car club and participated in many Antique Car Tours (including the famous Glidden tours), as well as having escorted Governor Otis Bowen in numerous local parades. They also enjoyed playing cards and were members of two different couples card clubs.

Phyllis loved to entertain and looked forward to all the family get-togethers where she would bring out games of Dominos, Sequence, and most often, Euchre. She was an exceptional pie maker, from the crust, to the fillings, to the toppings! No family meal was ever complete without a piece of one of her world-class banana cream, pecan, or pumpkin pies!

When the grandchildren were asked about some of the things they remember about gramma, one was her amazing talent for yodeling! They were mesmerized listening to her and trying to imitate those sounds. They remember how she would have lunch ready for them, and sometimes a few friends that tagged along, on school days. And they remember spending the night and having strawberry soda floats as a special treat at the end of the day. But the best memory for them, and everyone who knew her, was her amazingly fabulous sugar cookies! Her cookie jar was never left empty for long! She would be up very early in the morning baking more to fill it back up. Although Phyllis was happy to share her recipe for the cookies, few have been able to make them taste quite like hers!

A Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Bremen, IN, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 a.m., with Fr. Daniel Niezer officiating. After Mass, there be a procession to the cemetery and lunch to follow back at the Hall, where family and friends came share memories and stories.

The family would like to thank the staff and residents at the Whitlock for their care and friendship over the last almost 10 years that Phyllis enjoyed as a resident there. Thanks also to the Beacon Bremen Hospital for their care and recommendation for the Hospice House. In addition, a very special thank you to the Ernestine Raclin Hospice House staff for the excellent care and compassion they showed to the family and Phyllis during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phyllis’ name to St. Dominic Catholic Church, the Grace Food Pantry of Bremen, or the Ernestine Raclin Hospice House in Mishawaka.