Mrs. Emma Reyes Angel Arellano Bomba passed away peacefully on July 7, 2023.  Emma was born 97 years ago in Tequila, Mexico, on September 15, 1925.  Her family origins were of the Southeastern Zacatecas Native Indians of Mexico and of Spain.

Emma retired from the Dynagel Corporation in Calumet City in the Fall of 1990, where she worked for many years as a lab technician.  Prior to that, she enjoyed working by visiting people in their homes while in network marketing as a door-to-door salesperson for the Fuller Brush Company and Tupperware.  But her most beloved job was that in raising, caring for, and loving all the members of her immediate and extended families.

Emma had five siblings:  David Arellano (deceased), Saul Arellano (deceased), Julie Valenzuela (née Arellano), Benjamin Arellano, and Estanislao Arellano.  Emma survived two husbands, Frank Bomba, whom she met in Yuma, AZ, where he was stationed during his military service in the Army Air Corp.  Frankie and Emma were married in Yuma in June of 1945, and moved to Hammond, IN, where the Bomba family had immigrated to from Poland, and where Frankie was born and raised.  He died unexpectedly at the age of 40 in 1958.  Several years later, Emma married his brother, John, combining their two families of five children and moving to Burnham, IL.  Emma later gave birth to John’s son, Duane.  Emma also survived a life partner, Claire Surdyk, whom she lived with in Chesterton having made the town her home for the rest of her life.  Her children are Linda Bomba, Catherine Swigon (née Bomba), and Duane Bomba.  She had three stepchildren:  Paul Bomba, Bonita Huber (née Bomba), and Jerome Bomba.  She also touched and shared the lives of her life partner’s children: Tim Surdyk (deceased), Bruce Surdyk, and Cliff Surdyk.  Within these three families she loved and shared the lives of their spouses, significant others, and many children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great grandchildren, great nieces, great nephews, all of whom she loved and held close in her heart.

Emma resided with her parents and siblings and attended elementary and high school in Tucson, AZ.  As a preteen, Emma went to live with a Methodist minister and his wife, Reverend David and Mrs. Norton.  Reverend Norton presided over a congregation at the First United Methodist Church of Tucson, located across the street from the University of Arizona.  As a mother’s helper, Emma watched over the Norton’s four children:  Richard, David, Janet, and Arlene.  She lived with the Nortons in Arizona and California, up until the time she married Frankie in Yuma.  She always considered the Norton’s her second family.  When Mrs. Norton passed in the late 1900s, the children invited Emma on a European tour in honor of their mother, which became one of the most memorable trips of her lifetime.

After moving to Hammond, IN, from Yuma, Emma became a member of the Centenary Methodist Church where she met her lifelong friend of some 70 years, Sue Schmidt. She and Sue spent many years in their Bible study group where she made lifelong friends among the many women who supported her throughout her life.  She and Sue remained close to the end.  Growing up within a religious household, Emma was a devout, prayerful person and prayed the Our Father with her children every night whether lying right next to them, or long distance by phone.  The Lord was her shepherd and she now surely resides with him among his flock.

Emma’s signature words were, “Love Ya’ Lots,” which she truly meant and appeared on all her letters, cards, and as she waved us all off as a goodbye. Back at you Emma Bomba, as we say to you, ADIOS (go with God).  Every single one of us whose heart you touched will always LOVE YOU LOTS and remember you all our remaining days.

The family would like to THANK all the Caregivers, Doctors, Nurses, Aides and Hospice Staff that served Emma throughout her life.  We also would like to THANK all the Clergymen who played a role in Emma’s life that led her down the path to God.  As like her family and friends, you all were so loved and important to her.

Visitation will be on Friday, July 14, 2023 from 3:00-8:00 pm at Kish Funeral Home, 10000 Calumet Ave. Munster, IN. and on Saturday from 9:30-10:15 am with a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated at 11:00 am at St. Maria Goretti Church, 500 Northgate Dr. Dyer, IN. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Calumet City, IL.

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