Charlene M. Curosh

Charlene M. Curosh, age 77, of Whiting, IN, passed away at home on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.  Char was born on April 26, 1947 in East Chicago, IN.  Char married the love of her life, Joseph L. Curosh, Jr. on July 5, 1969. Char is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years and best friend, Joseph L. Curosh, Jr. of Whiting; her 3 children, Joseph L. Curosh III (Dawn) of Crown Point, David J. Curosh (Michelle) of Chicago, and Dr. Lauren Jo Kahle (Seth) of Whiting, four grandchildren, Joseph L. Curosh IV, Chloe Curosh, Mila Kahle and William Kahle, her sister, Janeace Slifka (Robert) of West Hartford, CT, her sister-in-law, Dr. Judith Plawecki (late Henry Plawecki), of Zionsville, IN and her 4 nephews, Scott Slifka (Noelle) of West Hartford, CT, Jonathan Slifka (Andrea) of West Hartford, CT, Dr. Martin Plawecki (Juli) of Zionsville, IN, and Lawrence Plawecki (Abby) of Zionsville, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Grace Simaga and her brothers-in-law Kenneth Curosh and Lawrence Curosh.

            Char was a lifelong resident of Whiting. She graduated from Bishop Noll Institute, Class of 1965.  She graduated in 1969 with her B.S. in English from Calumet College of St. Joseph and received her M.S. Degree in Special Education for K-12 from Purdue University Northwest.  Char first taught 7th and 8th grade English at St. John the Baptist Catholic Grade School in Whiting for 8 years.   She then left teaching for Motherhood and during the next 11 years welcomed into her family and raised her 3 children, Joey, Dave and Lauren.  Char later returned to teaching as a Special Education Teacher at Nathan Hale Elementary School in Whiting.  She was the first Special Education Teacher for the School City of Whiting, developed the Special Ed program and spent the next 25 years there. She was always all in for her students. Char always sought to improve her teaching strategies for each of her students in order to unlock each student’s learning process.

            Char was a very special person. She was the Beautiful Pink Rose in the garden of life. She dearly loved her husband, her children, grandchildren and her students.  She made everyone around her better.

             A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 119th Street and Lincoln Avenue, Whiting, Indiana, with the Rev. Charles W. Niblick, officiating. Family and friends are invited to meet with the family at the church from 9:00am to time of services. Expressions of Sympathy may be placed on-line at www.baranfh.com.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Char’s name to one of the following charities: The Whiting Food Pantry, St. Jude Research Hospital, or The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting, IN.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charlene M. Curosh, please visit our floral store.