“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” ‐ John 14:1
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Doreen Binder, age 98, passed away peacefully Thursday, August 17, 2023 in Howell, MI. She was born April 8, 1925 in Ypsilanti, MI, the daughter of Lawrence and Lois (Ribble) Binder. Doreen was a lifetime resident of Ypsilanti. She was an educator for 42 years in Belleville Public Schools. She was preceded in death by her brother Richard and his wife Susan. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. A memorial mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 411 Florence Street, Ypsilanti on Friday, September 15, 2023 at 2:30 pm with visitation beginning at 1:30 pm. Memorial donations may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Jean Ellen Eberts, age 88, Jean passed away at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital surrounded by family members. Jean was born in St. Johns, Michigan to Walter P. Brown and Rosalyn Wieber Brown. She lived the first year of her life in Fowler, Michigan where her parents originated. In 1935 she moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan when her father took the job of Manager of the Ypsilanti Farm Bureau. Jean’s education included first through eighth grade at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, followed by four years at Ypsilanti High School, from which she graduated in 1953. On May 7, 1955, she married Robert T. Eberts at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. They remained lifelong parishioners at St. John. Their marriage lasted 57 years until Bob’s passing in 2012. Together they raised six children: Richard (Roxanne) of Cedarville; MI, Robert (Margo) of Whitmore Lake, MI; James (Missy) of Hessel, MI; Janice (Jack) Wiseman of Ypsilanti; Jill Chadwick of Cedarville, MI; and Thomas (Christine) of Saline, MI. Jean was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Rosalyn, husband Bob, and brothers Patrick, Michael, and Charles. She is survived by her six children and a sister, Susan Kavanaugh. In addition, Jean has 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held 4-8 pm Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Stark Funeral Professionals. A Funeral mass will be held 11 am Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Following her funeral at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, she will be interred in St. John Cemetery beside her husband Bob, and near her parents as well as brothers Pat and Mike.
Sally S. Lounsberry, age 80, died Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at her residence. She was born December 7, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Leonard Joseph and Grace E. (Przyslawski) Niedbala. On April 16, 1966, she married Harold E. Lounsberry at Holy Trinity Student Chapel in Ypsilanti and he preceded her in death on May 1, 2009. Sally was a graduate of Alpena Catholic Central and completed her Master’s Degree in Education from Eastern Michigan University. She was a teacher with the Ypsilanti Public School District and also Beaver Island Community Schools. Her family and friends will always remember her love of family and all the time she volunteered her many talents in various community activities on Beaver Island. She is lovingly survived by two sons: Todd (Renee) Lounsberry and Jeffrey (Kathy) Lounsberry; seven grandchildren: Grace, Ava, Blake, Ella, Elizabeth and Noah Lounsberry; and Alex (Olivia) Whalen; her sister, Donna (Jim) Mulso; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ypsilanti, with Fr. Dan Westermann as Celebrant. Interment will take place on Beaver Island, Michigan. Visitation will be held at Janowiak Funeral Home, Geer-Logan Chapel, Ypsilanti on Monday, March 13, 2023, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and at the Church on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass.
Polly Katherine Wise, age 60, passed away on March 7, 2023 at home in Plymouth, Michigan. She was one of nine children and graduated from Petoskey High School in 1980. While at Petoskey High School, Polly was a member of color guard in the Midshipmen Jr. Drum and Bugle Corp, traveling all over Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio with her fellow Corp members. She attended North Central Michigan College, and earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Arizona State University. Polly had unlimited time for children, the elderly, the disabled, and animals – especially dogs! It was common to find her in creative play with kids, or deep conversations with adults about health, nature, art, and music. An avid reader, she enjoyed sharing new information with those who she knew would be interested. Polly and fun went together, and she would grab your hand to dance at the sound of any upbeat music – especially Motown, rock & roll, oldies, or swing. Her sparkling eyes and sweet smile filled a room! She was also the Best Caregiver: empathetic, patient, calm, and attentive to every detail. At L’Arche Cleveland, a home for adults with developmental disabilities, Polly was a House Manager for two L’Arche homes for several years. She had an extraordinary gift of working with the handicapped. As one of nine children, Polly practiced selflessness, being a mediator, and always bringing out the best in everyone. She was full of joy, laughter, silliness and had a youthfulness about her. She attended sporting, theater events and art shows of all the family members, always offering support and encouragement. Polly was service-oriented her whole life: serving at Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, and at Michigan’s Pine Hills Girls Camp – willing to wash the dishes as well as performing hilarious stage skits. Her strong faith was the underlying support to everything she did in her life. Polly is predeceased by her parents, Richard (Dick) and Betty Wise, nieces Hope Benedetto, Brooke Wise, and Faith Wise. She is survived by siblings John (Annie) Wise, Kevin (Carol) Wise, Chris (Lynn) Wise, Gayle (Bruce) Campbell, Ric (Beverly) Wise, Dana (Hank) Benedetto, Patrick (Margie Marks) Wise, and Tim (Trish) Wise, and 22 nieces and nephews, and 42 great-nieces and great-nephews. There will be a visitation with the family on Monday, March 13th at 9:30 AM until the 10:30 AM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 13th at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ypsilanti with Fr. Gerald Gawronski as celebrant.
Josephine F. “Nancy” Mertke, age 77, died Saturday, January 21, 2023, at her residence with her loving family at her side. She was born April 9, 1945, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the daughter of Gerard and Josephine (McCullough) Steele. She was married to John S. Mertke in Royal Oak, Michigan, and he preceded her in death on March 2, 2016. Nancy was employed in Retail for many years. She was an active member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ypsilanti. She is lovingly survived by two children: Michael (Don Miller) Mertke and Erin Green; eight grandchildren; several brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by one son, John G. Mertke on March 17, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 8:30 AM on Friday, January 27th at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ypsilanti with Fr. Dan Westermann as celebrant.
Virginia (Hackett) Falahee, 98 years, passed away on December 8, 2022 after a happy life full of love and devotion towards her family and friends. She enjoyed sixty-eight years of marriage with her husband Jim, who predeceased her in 2018. She is survived by their eight children and their spouses; by 19 grandchildren; and by 13 great-grandchildren. Virginia was born in Hudson, Michigan on September 22, 1924 and spent her early childhood there, before moving to Jackson, Michigan. Virginia received a Bachelor’s Degree in education from the University of Michigan. She taught at Pearl and Griswold schools until her marriage in 1950. She was an active member of Queen of Miraculous Medal church, served on various organizations, and retained lifelong friends through TC (The Club). She was a champion of higher education and particularly enjoyed her volunteer work helping children to discover the joys of reading. She loved to have family gatherings. Virginia was a wonderful, loving, gentle, smart and caring woman who believed that “people are more important than things.” A Memorial mass will be held at 9:45 AM on December 23, 2022 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Ypsilanti, Michigan. There will be a 9:00 AM wiewing at the Church prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, Michigan.
David Regis Mente, 92 years, died Thursday, October 27, 2022. He was born July 8, 1930, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of David A. and Mary (Group) Mente. On October 22, 1966, he married Jacqueline Forbes at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan and she survives. From 1952 until 1954, David served his country in the U.S. Marine Corp., receiving an Honorable Discharge. He was employed with United Airlines as an A&P Mechanic retiring in 1992 after 38 years of service. As a child, David was raised on a farm so when it was time to butcher the animals, he ran for the woods as he could not stand the thought of killing any creature. He was an active volunteer with the Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels retiring in 2001. David also was a member of the Ypsilanti Twp. Senior Center and Yankee Air Museum where he volunteered many hours as a Super Grunt during the Yankee Air Shows at Willow Run Airport. His family and friends will always remember his love of travel, especially travelling around the United States. Surviving besides his loving wife include one sister, Carol Jean Froehlick; one sister-in-law, Carol Mente ; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews and his cat Zackary. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Mary Lou Nelson, Zella Dellano, Rita Kyle and Paul D. Mente. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Fr. Dan Westermann as celebrant. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to FMAR, Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue, Belleville, MI or Yankee Air Museum. Envelopes will be available at the Janowiak Funeral Home, Geer-Logan Chapel, Ypsilanti where the family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary being recited at 7:00 p.m. and at the Church on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Presentation of the Flag under the auspices of the Veterans Honor Guard of Washtenaw County will take place immediately following the Mass.