Raymond J. Filar
Visitation with the family of former Livonia resident Raymond Filar, 64, of Brevard, N.C. will be 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, in St. Michael's Catholic Church, 25225 Code Road, Southfield.
Mr. Filar died Sept. 22, 2002, in Brevard, N.C.
He was a graduate of Southfield High School and Michigan Technological University, where he received a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He spent his career working in the automtive industry, retiring from Daimler Chrysler in 2000. He was a member of numerous professional organizations including ASM and SAE, of which he was Detroit Chapter president in the 1970s.
Surviving are his wife, Barbara; children, Tracey and Adam; mother; brother; and grandchildren. Family members reside in Southfield, Plymouth, West Bloomfield and Auburn Hills.
Memorial tributes may be made to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, N. Canton, OH 44720
Paul Edwin Pieti
Services for former Livonia resident Paul Pieti, 65, of Farmington Hills were Oct. 11 in First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills, with burial at Glen Eden Memorial Park. Officiating were Richard Pennala and Don Pennala.
Mr. Pieti was born Oct. 3, 1937, in Highland Park, and died Oct. 8, 2002, in Southfield.
He worked for Ford Motor Company-Dearborn as an engineer, retiring in 1996. He was a certified professional engineer. He was a 1955 graduate of Southfield High School and earned a degree in engineering from Michigan Tech in 1959. He also a Masters degree from Chrysler Institute in 1960.
Mr. Pieti enjoyed golf, traveling, skiing and being with his family.
Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Virginia; sons, Brian (Mari) Pieti of Dassel, Minn., John Pieti of Montana and Todd Pieti of Ann Arbor; daughters, Karin (Clark) Moe of Dassel, Minn., Rebecca Pieti of Farmington, Minn. and Jessica (Chris) Eckerman of Northville; brothers, David (Patricia) Pieti of Colorado and Robert (Kathy) Pieti of Dassel, Minn.; and six grandchildren.
Memorial tributes may be made to First Apostolic Lutheran Church, Building Fund, 26325 Halstead Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
DeVoy Sexton
A memorial service for DeVoy Sexton, 80, of Livonia was Oct. 11 in Fisher Funeral Home, Redford Township. Private burial was at Ft. Custer National Cemetery in Aususta, Mich.
Mr. Sexton was born Aug. 7, 1922, in Chassee, Mo., and died Oct. 7, 2002, in Livonia.
Surviving are his children, Sherry Haddock, Todd (Cheryl), Patrick (Marnie), David (June) Sexton, and Yvonne (Floyd), Barbara (Jim) and Sharon (Bill); and many grandchildren.
Memorial tributes may be made to American Heart Association.
Francis Ann Namovich
Services for Francis Namovich, 96, of Westland were Jan. 4 in Ss. Simon & Jude Catholic Church with burial at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights. Officiating was the Rev. Gerard Bechard.
Mrs. Namovich was born March 8, 1906, and died Dec. 30, 2002, in Garden City. She was a clerk. She was a member of Ss. Simon & Jude Catholic Church.
Surviving are her children, Alice Namovich, Amelia DeFranco, Angeline Slanda, David Namovich, Frances (John) Gamberini and Fred Namovich; brother, Frank Ostrowski; daughter, Alice Namovich; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Uht Funeral Home.
Edward C. Reuter
Edward Reuter, 79, of Canton died Dec. 31, 2002, in Superior Township. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Dr. Reuter was born Feb. 4, 1923, in Appleton, Wis. He had a general practice from 1951-55 in Kiron, Iowa upon his graduation from Still Osteopathic College in Des Moines. He had a family practice in Westland for 30 years. He was a member of the Garden City Hospital staff from 1956-1986, and served on the Board of Directors, as well as Staff Chairman, Medical Director and was hospital Physician of the Year 1975. He became an Honorary Life Member of the medical staff in 1985. Dr. Reuter was a member of the Board of Trustees of Garden Nursing Center 1983 to present.
Dr. Reuter was also active in the thoroughbred industry. He was a member of the Horsemans Protective Benevolent Association and past president and board member of the Mich. United Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association over 25 years.
Surviving are his wife, Ruth; children, Diane Reuter, Mark (Kelly) Reuter, Terrence Reuter and Dr. Robert (Kathleen) Reuter; sister, Norma Somerville; and grandchildren, Andrew, Jessica, Summer, Michael and Mitchel.
Dr. Reuter was preceded in death by his daughter, Heidi Reuter, and brother, Paul Reuter.
Arrangements were made by John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home.
Erma Lucile Severance
Private services for Erma Severance, 90, of Westland were held recently. Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home, Westland.
Mrs. Severance was born June 27, 1912, in Gull Lake, Mich., and died Dec. 26, 2002, in Garden City. She was a substitute teacher in the Wayne-Westland school system.
Surviving are her sons, Hugh Severance of Indiana and Eric Severance; daughter, Mary Zninski of Rapid City, Mich.; and granddaughter, Megan Shaner.
Francis Ann Namovich
Services for Francis Namovich, 96, of Westland were Jan. 4 in Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church with burial at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights. Officiating was the Rev. Gerard Bechard.
Mrs. Namovich was born March 8, 1906, and died Dec. 30, 2002, in Garden City. She was a clerk.
Surviving are her children, Alice Namovich, Amelia DeFranco, Angeline Slanda, David Namovich, Frances (John) Gamberini and Fred Namovich; brother, Frank Ostrowski; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Uht Funeral Home.
Regina Hropowitski
Services for Regina Hropowitski, 83, of Westland were Jan. 3 in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Wayne with burial at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights. Officiating was the Rev. Jack Baker.
Mrs. Hropowitski was born July 2, 1919, and died Dec. 29, 2002, in Livonia. She was a homemaker.
Surviving are her husband, Frank; children, Lorraine (Ronald) Magdowski, Robert (Debra) Hropovitski (sp. ok) and Joyce (Donald) Goodwin; two grandchildren, Darrin and Brian Magdowski; and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Hropowitski was preceded in death by her brothers, Joseph Kruszynski, Eugene Kruszynski and Stephen Krusinski (sp. ok).
Arrangements were made by Uht Funeral Home.
Harold E. Schoen
Services for Harold E. Schoen, 81, of Livonia will be held December 30 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Lew Towler and Dr. William Lupfer officiating.
Mr. Schoen was born July 22, 1921 in Lansing. He died Dec. 22 in Livonia. He was a retired senior accountant for Michigan Bell-Ameritech. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Plymouth where he served on the vestry and was treasurer. He was a member of the Plymouth Elks, the Ann Arbor Masonic Order, the Livonia Republican Club and the Telephone Pioneers of America.
He was a naval/aviator, Lt. Cdr. in the U.S. Navy during World War II and a recruiter for the U.S. Naval Academy. Mr. Schoen was on the advisory committee for Livonia Public Schools and Schoolcraft College.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jeanne Schoen and son Harold E. "Chip" Schoen, Jr.
Survivors include son Phillip C. (Michelle) Schoen of Westland; grandchildren David (Elizabeth) Schoen of Dearborn, Karen Schoen of Kalamazoo, Matthew Schoen of Arizona, Jessica Schoen of Arizona and Shemia Cain of Ypsilanti; great-grandchild Trinity Skye Schoen of Arizona; sister Minta (Robert) McCurley of Rochester, Wash.; brother Lawrence (Ella Jayne) Schoen of Mason; and daughter-in-law Ophelia Schoen of Ypsilanti.
Arrangements were made by Schrader-Howell Funeral Home of Plymouth.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
Mary Rebecca Beardsley
Services for Mary Rebecca Beardsley, 85, of Westland were held Dec. 27 in Vermeulen Funeral Home of Plymouth. Rev. Robert Joy officiated and burial followed at Andersonville Cemetery of Davisburg, Mich.
Mrs. Beardsley was born July 9, 1917 in Bluefield, W.Va. She died Dec. 22. She was a member of First Congregational Church of Wayne and had been formerly employed as a nurses aid.
She is preceded in death by her husband Russell Beardsley.
Survivors include sons Russell B. (Janet) Beardsley of Fla. and Kenneth W. (Mary) Beardsley of Canton; daughter Donna G. Durigon of Canton; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home of Plymouth.
Margaret A. Fortin
Services for Margaret A. Fortin, 86, of Westland were held Dec. 27 at St. Raphael Catholic Church. Rev. Gerard V. Bechard officiated. Burial followed at St. Hedwig Cemetery of Dearborn Heights.
Mrs. Fortin was born September 12, 1916 in Scranton, Penn. She died Dec. 22 in Farmington Hills. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Raphael Catholic Church.
She is survived by husband Raymond R. Fortin of Westland; son Richard (Barbara) Fortin of Dearborn; daughter Jean (Olgerts) Orleans of Westland; sister Helen Walsh of Northville; brother Thomas Walsh of Westland; grandchildren Jane, Frank, Michael, Dante and Susan; and great-grandchildren Ryan, Frank, Quinlan, Jonathon, Brock, Erin, Madison, Matthew, David, Brittany, Joseph, Derick, Lauren and Rebecca.
Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home of Westland.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mass Offerings and Father Solanus Guild, 1780 Mt. Elliot, Detroit, MI 48207.
George James Kurilla
Services for George James Kurilla, 88, of Westland were held Dec. 21 at Vermeulen Funeral Home with Rev. Jack H. Baker officiating. Burial followed at Glen Eden Memorial Park of Livonia.
Mr. Kurilla was born April 28, 1914 in Orient, Penn. He died Dec. 17 in Garden City. He had been employed as a security guard.
Survivors include wife Mary E. Kurilla of Westland; sons Gary (Laurie) Kurilla of Santa Barbara, Calif. and Robert (Kathleen) Kurilla of Lake Orion; brother Paul (Cathryn) Kurilla of New York; sister Helen Blazek of Masontown, Penn.; and grandchildren Todd Kurilla of Lake Orion and Jason Kurilla of Santa Barbara.
Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home of Westland.
John R. Young
Services for John R. Young, 59, of Westland were held Dec. 27 at St. Thomas Becket Church. Rev. C. Richard Kelly officiated.
Mr. Young was born June 16, 1943 in Detroit. He died Dec. 20 in Wayne. He was a production analyst.
He is survived by wife Donna Young; sons John Young of Westland, Joseph Young of Plymouth, and Jason Young of Dearborn Heights; daughter Jessica Young of Westland; sisters Judy Schwartz of Bloomfield Hills and Jane Young of Royal Oak; and brother Joseph Young of Birmingham.
Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home of Westland.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 29350 Southfield Rd., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48076.
Rita Mae Hedger
Services for Rita Mae Hedger, 63, of Westland were held Monday, Dec. 30, at the Uht Funeral Home in Westland with the Rev. Bob McDonald officiating.
Mrs. Hedger was born Aug. 25, 1939. She died Dec. 26 in Garden City. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Dale Hedger; sons,
David Hedger, Tom Hedger and Alan (Chris) Hedger; daughter, Cindy Hedger; sisters, Lenore Hardway, Ruby Clark and Hazel Gladstaff; 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Norman Sanders Jr.
Burial is in the Cadillac Memorial Gardens West in Westland.
James Jerome Stromski
Services for James Jerome Stromski, 70, of Westland were held Monday, Dec. 30, at SS. Simon & Jude Catholic Church in Westland. The Rev. Gerard Bechard officiate.
Mr. Stromski was born July 2, 1932. He died Dec. 26 in Wayne Michigan. He was a millwright.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Stromski, three sons, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Burial is in the Cadillac Memorial Gardens West in Westland. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Uht Funeral Home.
Mary Alice Stailey
Services for Mary Alice Stailey, 68, of Westland were held Saturday, Dec. 28, at St. Richard Catholic Church in Westland. The Rev. Terence F. Treppa officiated.
Mrs. Stailey was born Jan. 8, 1934. She died Dec. 24. She was a nurse.
She is survived by her husband, James Stailey; sons, Michael (Louise) Stailey, Mark (Margaret) Stailey, Charles Stailey and Joseph Stailey; daughters, Cathy (Donald) Kingsbury and Sharon (Patrick) Wall; sister, Marguerite Rinderkinect; 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Burial is in Cadillac Memorial Gardens West in Westland. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Uht Funeral Home.
Sandra Helen Lindley
Services for Sandra Helen Lindley, 53 of Westland were held Dec. 20 in Uht Funeral Home of Westland with Rev. Bob McDonald officiating.
Sandra Lindley was born August 13, 1949. She died Dec. 18, 2002, in Westland. She was a waitress.
She is survived by her companion and soulmate Chuck Cook; stepsons Allen Lindley and Michael Lindley; brothers Robert Wozny and Daniel (Mary) Wozny; nephews Justice Wozny, Jay Wozny, Thomas Wozny, Dustin Rokita and Zachary Rokita; niece Honesty Wozny; and cherished loved ones Me-Ma, Susan, Andrea, Pamela and Erica.
Arrangements were made by Uht Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Lewis J. Vanderbeck
Services for Lewis J. Vanderbeck, 95, of Westland were held Dec. 24 in the chapel of the L.J. Griffin Funeral Home. Pastor Robert Beddingfield of First Baptist Church of Riverview officiated. Burial was at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Vanderbeck was born May 9, 1907, in Hamlin, N.Y. He died Dec. 21, 2002, in Westland. He was a piano teacher for 50 years.
He is survived by wife Gertrude, daughter Sue Ann (Richard E.) Vanderbeck Lenz, two brothers and one sister.
Arrangements were made by the L.J. Griffin Funeral Home of Westland.
William J. Huggins
Services for William J. Huggins, 76, of Westland will be held Dec. 27 in Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Redford with Rev. Robert F. Goudie officiating. Burial will follow at Parkview Memorial.
Mr. Huggins was born Sept. 28, 1926, in River Rouge. He died on Dec. 23, 2002, in Dearborn Heights. He worked in production for the automotive industry.
He was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis.
Surviving are sons William J. (Judy) Huggins Jr. and Keith S. (Bonnie) Huggins; daughters Kathryn M. Pearson, Elizabeth A. Sharp, Wanda L. Huggins, Frances J. Huggins and Susan K. Huggins; two brothers, four sisters and 10 grandchildren.
Arrangements were made by L.J. Griffin Funeral Home of Westland.
Memorials may be made to Angela Hospice.
George Price
Services for George Price, 97, of Detroit were Dec. 21 in the chapel of L.J. Griffin Funeral Home with burial at Grand Lawn Cemetery, Detroit.
Mr. Price was born April 16, 1905, in Ocean Mines, W.Va., and died Dec. 19, 2002, in Farmington Hills. He was a center less grinder for the automotive industry.
Surviving are his daughter, Shirley (Raymond) Kulesza of Westland; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Price was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, and son, Donald.
