Charles L. Castile
A memorial service for former Redford resident Charles Castile, 81, of Canton was Aug. 3 in St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Dearborn Heights.
Mr. Castile was born July 2, 1921, in Lockridge, Iowa, and died July 30, 2002, in Canton.
Surviving are his wife, Ina; sons, Dennis, Gary (Jean) and Roy (Cindy); daughter, Susan (Mark) Valentine; and three grandchildren.
Memorial tributes may be made to American Cancer Society or Parkinsons Foundation.
Arrangements were made by Fisher Funeral Home, Redford Township.
Sheldon Larry Beckwith
Services for Sheldon Beckwith, 61, of Livonia were Aug. 2 in Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in Farmington, with burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Farmington. Officiating was the Rev. Jennifer Sadd.
Mr. Beckwith was born Oct. 27, 1940, in Detroit, and died July 28, 2002, in Farmington Hills. He was a model maker for General Motors Corp.
Surviving are son, Larry (Lisa) Beckwith of Farmington Hills; brother, Al (Joyce) Beckwith of Arizona; sisters Lorene Jeffrey, Dorothy Pettibone and Marlene Trobridge; four grandchildren, Jamie Beckwith, Kristyna Beckwith, Julie (Ken) Richey and Michael Saldana; and companion, Jean Saldana of Redford.
Mr. Beckwith was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; brother, Raymond Beckwith; and sister, Tootie.
Memorial tributes may be made to Karmanos Cancer Institute.
Melvin John Wiitanen
Services for former Redford resident Melvin Wiitanen, 83, of Westland were Aug. 3 in Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Farmington, with burial at Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia.
Mr. Wiitanen was born April 28, 1919, in Red Ridge, Mich., and died July 31 in Livonia.
Mr. Wiitanen was a salesman for Independent Biscuit Company. He enjoyed sports; bowling and softball; and was a baseball umpire for various leagues.
Mr. Wiitanen served in the Coast Guard during World War II.
Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Agnes; son, Curtis Wiitanen of Canton; daughter, Cheryl (Randall) Ollila of Westland; brothers, Lloyd Wiitaten of Houghton, Wilho Wiitanen of Houghton and Roy Wiitanen of Clawson; and sisters, Mae Stimac of Fenton and Karen Ranta of Toivola, Mich.
Memorial tributes may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Detroit Area Chapter, 17220 W. 12 Mile Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48076.
Mary Ann Shefferly
A funeral Mass for Mary Ann Shefferly, 80, of Farmington Hills was Aug. 3 in Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit. Officiating was Msgr. Walter A. Hurley.
Mrs. Shefferly was born July 25, 1922, in Greenville, S.C., and died July 31, 2002, in Royal Oak. She was a 1940 graduate of St. Anthony High School. She was employed at Chevrolet Gear and Axle.
Mrs. Shefferly was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Oak Park and later joined St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Redford Township. She was involved with Catholic Central High School Mother's Club.
She enjoyed gardening and took great pride in her home. After the death of her husband, Jack, in 1969, she pursued her interest in floral design, working at a florist. In 1977 she began at the Redford Township Senior Citizen Center and eventually became department head.
Surviving are her sons, Paul (Debbie) Shefferly of Northville and Phil (Pattie) Shefferly; brothers, Rick Semany and Rob Semany; and four grandchildren, Megan, John, Kelly and Kirk.
Mrs. Shefferly was preceded in death by her husband, John (1969), and brothers, Joseph and Anthony.
Memorial tributes may be made to Capuchins, Basilian Fathers, Jesuits or Most Holy Trinity Church.
Arrangements were made by Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in Farmington.
Charles C. Smith
Services for Charles Smith, 69, of Livonia were Sept. 25, in St. Genevieve Catholic Church, with burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.
Charles Smith was born Jan. 29, 1933, in Centerline, and died Sept. 21, 2002, in Farmington Hills. He was a Basilian Priest.
Surviving are his brother, Ralph Smith; sister, Janice Chapin; and religious superior, Rev. Marvin LaBute of Livonia
Arrangements were made by Neely-Turowski Funeral Home.
William J. Rais
A memorial Mass for former Livonia resident William Rais, 87, of Denton, Texas will be 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in St. Colette Catholic Church. The family will be celebrating his life with a memorial following the Mass.
Mr. Rais was born April 21, 1915, in Detroit, and died Aug. 15, 2002, at his residence in Denton, Texas.
He was a longtime resident of Livonia and was retired from Livonia's Water Department.
Surviving are his sons, Robert (Deborah) of Northville, Ronald (Monica) of Pilot Point, Texas, Ralph and Raymon of Livonia, and Roger of Westland; daughters, Elizabeth Grimshaw of Denton, Texas, and Elaine (Robert) Nevel of Flat Top, Tenn.; brother, Walter Rais of Detroit; sisters, Stephanie Flis and Helen Rais of Detroit; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Mr. Rais was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, May 4, 1993.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 20 in St. Mark Catholic Church, with burial at Belew Cemetery in Aubrey, Texas.
Catherine Micallef
Services for Catherine Micallef, 87, of Livonia will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, at St. Edith Catholic Church, 15089 Newburgh Road, Livonia. Officiating will be Msgr. Gerald Flanigan.
Visitation is 1-9 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 26, in R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Road, Livonia, with a Vigil Service at 7:30 p.m.
Mrs. Micallef was born Sept. 8, 1915, and died Sept. 23, 2002, in Livonia. She was a homemaker.
Surviving are her children, Dolores (Emmanuel) Azzopardi, Joseph (Glenda), Alfred (Faith), Carmelo (Cindy), Tony (Pat), Sonny (Mary), Mary (John) Henderson, Paul (Brenda), Benny (Kathleen) and Grace Goretski; 22 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Micallef was preceded in death by her husband, Paul.
Burial will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Paul Everett Williams
A memorial service for former Livonia resident Officer First Class Paul Williams, 47, of Jacksonville, Fla. was Aug. 21 at King's Bay Naval Base in Kings Bay, Ga.
Graveside services with an Honor Guard were held at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Weems, Va., Aug. 18, 2002. Officiating was the Rev. Brian Hamrick of Fairfield Baptist Church in Burgess, Va.
Mr. Williams died Aug. 13, 2002, in Florida. He was a former resident of Garden City and a graduate of Livonia Bentley High School. He was a member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Livonia, and Garden City Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Williams served 20 years in the Navy Submarine Service and at the time of his death was stationed at King's Bay Naval Base in Kings Bay, Ga.
Surviving are his wife, Denise; daughters, Marion Williams Burnett of Michigan and Mariah Leigh Williams of Georgia; step-daughter, China Lily Sneed of Florida; mother, Lona Mae Williams of Reedville, Va.; brothers, H. Franklin Williams of Washington State and Carl Williams of Virginia; sister, Julia Ramsden of Westland; two grandsons, Jonathan and Joseph of Michigan; and several aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorial tributes may be made to American Cancer Society.
Edward Papier
Services for Edward Papier, 83, of Livonia were today, Sept. 26, in St. Priscilla Church, with burial at Parkview Memorial Cemetery. Officiating was the Rev. Raymond Bucon.
Mr. Papier was born June 25, 1919, in Detroit, and died Sept. 21, 2002.
Surviving are his niece, Rosemarie (Carl) Troutead of Livonia; nephew, Bernard (Jeanette) Kolodziejski; great-nieces, Gerri Powell and Renee (Scott) Courtny; great nephew, Tim Troutead; and three great-great nieces and nephew.
Memorial tributes may be made in the form of Mass cards.
Arrangements were made by Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in Farmington.
Darlene Seesholtz
Services for Darlene Seesholtz, 67, of Livonia were Sept. 13 in John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home, with burial at Cadillac Memorial Gardens, West in Westland.
Mrs. Seesholtz was born Dec. 5, 1934, and died Sept. 9, 2002, at her home in Livonia. She was employed by Kmart for 28 years, working in the Westland and Livonia stores.
Surviving are her sons, Michael (Revonda) and Ken (Natalie); daughters, Kelly (Mike) Camilleri and Holly (Bill) Pajot; father, Edward Traylor; brother, Lee (June); sisters, Sandra (Doug) Hayes and Marilyn (Neal) Hochkins; and 10 grandchildren, Kylie, Kaitlyn, Chelsea, Kendra, Brianna, Becky, Amanda, Brandon, Lindsey and Collin. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
William A. Wilcox
Services for William Wilcox, 83, of Livonia were Sept. 23 in R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home. Officiating was the Rev. C. Allen Kannapell.
Mr. Wilcox was born Nov. 3, 1918, in Manchester, Vt., and died Sept. 18, 2002, at his home in Livonia. He lived in this area 40 years and was a former resident of Toledo, Ohio.
Mr. Wilcox was a superintendent for Perini Construction. He also worked at Livonia City Hall and Epcot Center. He earned a degree in construction engineering from Antioch College, Ohio.
Surviving are his wife, Edith; sons, Paul, Clifford and Gordon Wilcox; and granddaughter, Lauren.
Ralph Hargis, Sr.
A Celebration of Life service for Ralph Hargis, Sr., 65, of Livonia was Sept. 24 in Harry J. Will Funeral Home, with burial at Grand Lawn Cemetery.
Mr. Hargis died Sept. 20, 2002.
Surviving are his wife, Linda; son, Ralph Hargis, Jr.; daughter, Noreen (Daniel) Groth; brother, James; and sisters, Mable Hale and Marie Aldrige.
Memorial tributes may be made to American Cancer Society.
Roger P. Miller
Services for Roger Miller, 48, of Livonia were Sept. 24 in Faith Lutheran Church in Livonia.
Mr. Miller died Sept. 20, 2002.
Surviving are his wife, Christine; children, Joslyn, Jaclyn and Jeanette; parents, Dr. William and Shirley Miller; and brothers, Bill (Rita), Ric (Anne) and Ray (Danielle).
Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his wife, Anne.
Memorial tributes may be made to Mercy Hospital Cancer Care Center or Michigan Humane Society.
Arrangements were made by R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home.
