Mildred Mary Sum

The Sum family must inform, we’ve lost Mildred Mary Denson Sum to her fellow angels in God’s presence. Born March 24th, 1929, “Midge” Sum lived a full and extremely productive life.  Lifelong volunteers, she and her beloved husband “Bill” spent significant time and effort in support of The Saint Ann’s Soup Kitchen, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Central Catholic High School and countless other local and regional charities.

Midge was a world-renowned bird watcher, greenest of thumbs gardener, practiced seamstress and sewer of quilts.  Though she dabbled in the world of advertising as a highly sought after fashion model, (and played a mean organ) her modesty prevents further review of this aspect of her very busy life.

She is preceded in death by her parents Margaret Mary and Floyd C Denson, husband William F Sum, sister Betty (Ernie) Collison, brother Charles Richard (Jan) Denson, sister Ruth (Earl) Mills and granddaughter Kathleen Sum. She is survived by her children, son Michael Sum, son Joe Sum, daughter Alice (Harry) Kasdorf and Chris (Cindy) Sum.

Also survived by her grandchildren Ashley (Ryan) Murray, Margaret (Daniel) Perkins, Emily Sum, Frank (Kayla Sharayao) Sum, Beth (Nicholas) Cottrell, Sally (Carlos Garcia) Sum, Brian (Sarah) Sum, Anna (Wes Daniel) Sum and Claire Sum.

Midge also affectionately known as “Mammam” by the entire clan was finally survived by her great grandchildren Sawyer Sum, Gavin Murray, Owen Murray, Clara Sum, Liam Sum, Marcus Colledge and Thomas Cottrell.

Midge’s influence, as the last of her generation throughout the extended family that includes beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and all their children and grandchildren was profound. She loved each and every one of them with all her heart and always knew that love was reciprocated.

Visitation will be from 12:00 pm until the time of mass at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 2224 Sacramento Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47906. Interment will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens following mass.

She has expressed a request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Mercy Home for Children in Chicago, a charity in whose mission she and Bill strongly believed.