Ida Mae (Gardner) Sizelove, age 84 of Anderson and formerly of Elwood, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 25, 2023, at Ascension-St. Vincent Hospital in Anderson after 84 years of joy and kindness. She was born November 14, 1938, in Matthews, Indiana, the daughter of Rev. Farrel H. and Mary Ann (Reynolds) Gardner. Ida lived nearly all her life in Elwood and was a 1957 graduate of Wendell L. Willkie High School. She had a servant’s heart and became a Certified Nursing Assistant working at Mercy Hospital in Elwood for 33 years. Ida was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood and formerly the Elwood Eagles Lodge.
Ida was a photogenic beauty who was the apple of her parents’ eye. She had many talents but chose a life of service to care for the sick and infirmed. Aunt Ida, as she was known to her family, was devoted to a life of kindness and humanity. She had several surprises to her character including her love of watching W.W.F. Wrestling; being a devoted fan of Elvis Presley (real or impersonators) as a member of his fan club; and loving all types of jewelry – real and costume as long as they were pretty! Ida was always smartly dressed for a dinner show and celebrated theatrical arts. Her legacy will live on in those whom she shared so much of her life.
Ida’s family includes 3 children, Shawn L. Sizelove of Marion, Walter A. Sizelove of Oakland, CA, and Angela E. Sizelove of Maui, HI; 2 grandchildren, Chris and Kyle; and beloved nieces and nephew, Elizabeth Spade of Alexandria, Melissa (Chad) Mountcastle of Juneau, AK, and Robert (Leah) Gardner of Anderson. Ida was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Sharon Gardner; brother, Tim (and wife Gladys) Gardner; and nephew, Timothy A. Gardner.
A funeral mass will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at St. Joseph Church in Elwood with father Dennis Goth officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Elwood. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home prior to the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church or The American Red Cross. “Like Jesus, we belong to the world not living for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta).
