Barbara Jean (Pondo) Korba

Barbara (Barb) Jean Korba passed away on July 11, 2024 after declining health.

Born Barbara Jean Pondo June 11, 1944 to Stanley & Lillian Pondo in East Chicago (EC), IN, she was ultimately the oldest of 6 siblings. She married Eugene “Gene” Korba in October 1962 and together they had 3 children, moving to Hammond in 1968, but never really leaving EC behind.

Barb found time over her life to support her broader community in many ways. From the Cub Scouts to Junior Achievement and Haven House, to serving with the St. Vincent DePaul society in East Chicago. She cooked dinners for neighbors, especially those alone on the holidays, so they could feel the love of “family” and have a great meal.

She was always there to share her attention and love for anyone who needed it.

If one thing defined Barb, it was her love of family. She really, really loved her family. Not just her husband, three scruffy kids and three grandkids, but a sprawling group connected by blood and friendship. Notably, she joyfully organized many Kenar family reunions over decades which helped maintain and broaden the deep familial bonds she first felt growing up in the “Kenar Compound” in EC.  Connections which still hold them together today.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley & Lillian Pondo, her husband of 61 years Gene Korba, grandson Corbin Ray Bach, brothers Ron & Ken Pondo, and sister Joyce Leouses, sisters-in-law Rosemarie (Andrew) Poludniak and Margaret A. Korba, brother-in-law Jerome J. (Deborah) Korba and many other family members.

Barb is survived by her children James (Karen) Korba, Michael (Stacy) Korba and Tina Korba, grandchildren Jacob Korba and Jonathon Bach, brother Rev. Stanley Pondo, sister Cynthia (Craig) Neville, sister-in-law Irene (Phil) Dombrowski, many nieces and nephews and, as she would have gladly told you, many, many loving family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:00 am at St. Stanislaus Church, 808 West 150th Street, East Chicago, IN with Rev. Stanley Pondo officiating.  Burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Calumet City, IL.  To share an online condolence, logon to www.fifefuneralhome.com

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