MARY DOLENCE
Services for Mary "Mitzi" Dolence, 87, of Novi, were held May 1 at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Farmington with the Rev. Leonard Partensky officiating.
Mrs. Dolence was born May 30, 1914 in Pittsburg, Kan. and died April 30, 2002 in Novi. She worked as a supervisor for Awrey Bakeries and was a member of the Slovenian National Benefit Society.
She is survived by her nephew, Michael (Muriel) Adamic; nieces Patricia (William) Smith and Rose Marie (Donald) Fritz; and several great-nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her first husband Andrew Werholtz and second husband John Dolence.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association P.O. Box 2680 North Canton, Ohio 44720 or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 29350 Southfield Road, Ste. 42, Southfield, MI 48076.
MARY L. NIEMI
Mary Louise Niemi, 73, of Farmington, died May 15, 2002.
Mrs. Niemi was born Aug. 7, 1928 in Detroit. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her daughters, Mary (Tony) Cassar and Jeanne Niemi; and son, Lawrence (Renee). She is preceded in death by her husband, Roy, and daughters, Margaret and Ann Marie.
Arrangements made by Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in Farmington.
DIANA M. SPARKS
Services for Diana Mae Sparks, 68, of Warren, were held May 24 at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Farmington with Dr. Paul Sutton officiating. Burial took place at Oakland Hills Memorial Gardens in Novi.
Mrs. Sparks was born Jan. 3, 1934 in Detroit and died May 20, 2002 at St. John Hospital in Warren. She worked as a receptionist and was a member of the Swedish Club.
She is survived by her husband Ralph; sons, Randall (Linda) and Gregory (Yvette); daughters, Cheryl Sparks and Susan (Angelo) Taormina; brothers, Pete, John and Gus Johnson; sister, Sonya Cardinale; and nine grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her sister, Vickie Smyth.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Swedish Club, 22398 Ruth, Farmington Hills, MI.
PATRICIA ELVIDGE
Services for Patricia Elvidge, 63, of Farmington Hills, will be held at 7 p.m. today, May 26 at McCabe Funeral Home in Farmington Hills with visitation beginning at 3 p.m.
Ms. Elvidge was born in Covington, Ky. and died May 19, 2002 at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills. She was the property manager at Glens of Cedarbrooke Apartments in Farmington Hills since 1979. She had a no-nonsense attitude that "got the job done" and considered her tenants as her kids no matter what their age.
She is survived by her daughter, Rae Elvidge; sister, Shirley Robinson; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the U of M Liver Research and Training in Memorial of Patricia Elvidge c/o Liver Management Office 3912 Taubman Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0362.
JAMES T. HAMMER
A celebration of life memorial service for James "Jamie" Thomas Hammer 37, formerly of Farmington Hills will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at St. Clare of Assisi Church in Farmington Hills.
Mr. Hammer was born Feb. 27, 1965 in Redford and died May 19, 2002 in Hawaii. He worked as a custodian for Farmington Public Schools and as a landscape engineer at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Hawaii. He was an awarded swimmer, experienced hiker and enjoyed being on the beaches of Hawaii.
He is survived by his wife, Patty; daughters, Puanani and Jamiee Jo; son, Jahn; father, Jack; sisters, Nancy Boyer and Mary Jo (Rick) Halleck; brother, Tim; special uncle of Shane Hammer, Thor Boyer, Shawn, Jody and Jonathan Halleck. He is preceded in death by his mother Betty Jo and brother John.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
ARCHIE PERRY DOBBS
Services for Archie Dobbs, 60, of Garden City were June 7 in Uht Funeral Home with burial at Glenwood Cemetery in Wayne. Officiating was the Rev. Patrick Lowery.
Mr. Dobbs was born Oct. 5, 1941, and died June 3 in Livonia. He was a custodian.
Surviving are his sisters, Stella Lack and Darlene (Eugene) Stec of Livonia; several nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and nephews.
There are family members who reside in Westland.
Mr. Dobbs was preceded in death by his sister, Amylee Lack.
BENJAMIN J. REULAND
A wake is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15, in Westland for Benjamin J. Reuland, 50, of Northville, who died suddenly June 8 while working in Wayne.
Mr. Reuland, a former employee at the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, was a 1969 graduate of Stevenson High School in Livonia.
He earned two degrees from Schoolcraft College. He also attended Eastern Michigan University. He worked in the mailroom at the O&E for 21 years from 1974 to 1995.
Mr. Reuland was born July 12, 1951, in Aurora, Ill., to Karl and Mary Reuland. The family moved from Kansas to Livonia in 1969.
Mr. Reuland was described by friends and family as a loving father, friend and writer.
"Throughout his life, he wrote poems and essays, often about nature. From wood, feather and other bits he collected on his frequent hikes or while fishing, he created sculptures featured at Toledo Botanical Gardens.'' said longtime friend Annette Taylor, a journalism professor at the University of Dayton.
"He loved Michigan State University basketball, books, and music, and had a vast eclectic album collection. He had a poet's heart and sweet, mischievous smile.
"He said his greats gifts were his children - Aaron, 26, of Ypsilanti; Erik, 24, of Detroit and Rebecca, 19, of Livonia and a student at Columbia College in Chicago. He adored his new daughter-in law, Connie, Erik's wife,'' said Taylor.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary.
In addition to his sons, and daughter, other survivors include father, Karl of Orlando, Fla.; sisters, Karla Matweychek of Westland and Martha Price of Fullerton, Calif.; brother, John of Spokane, Wash.; nephews, Scott Boze of Westland, Seth Boze of Taylor and Shawn Boze of Taylor, "Little'' Ben Reuland of Spokane and nieces, Noel Reuland of Spokane, Sabrina Price and Elizabeth Price of Fullerton.
No funeral was held. Mr. Reuland was cremated on June 11.
SHIRLEY S. ROY
Services for Shirley Roy, 67, of Westland were June 8 in Schrader-Howell Funeral Home. Officiating was the Rev. Drex Morton.
Mrs. Roy was born Jan. 12, 1935, in Detroit and died June 3 in Ann Arbor. She was an office manager for Brands Direct in Plymouth since 1960. She came to the Westland community in 1998 from Canton.
Mrs. Roy enjoyed horse racing; she owned a race horse. She enjoyed bingo, shopping and traveling to Las Vegas.
Surviving are her sons, Michael Roy and Nick (Diana); daughters, Cindy Roy of Commerce Township and Lisa (Dave) Duke of Garden City; and six grandchildren, Robert and Brandon MacBrien, Colton Duke, and Christopher, Nicole and Jennifer Roy.
Mrs. Roy was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Robert.
Memorials may be made to the family.
WANDA D. LEMON
Services for Wanda Lemon, 75, of Garden City were June 4 in John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home. Officiating was the Rev. Jerry Yarnell from St. Michael Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Lemon was born March 2, 1927, in Marshall County, Ky., and died June 2 in Garden City. She was First Citizen of Garden City in 1986. She was an executive secretary for Garden City Chamber of Commerce 1978-90. Mrs. Lemon was a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church.
Surviving are her husband, John; daughters, Cynthia (Dennis) Russell, DeeDee (Craig) Schommer, Colleen (Dr. Gary) Ross, Kim Barker, Kitty (Tom) Beck, Kelly (Len) Samborski and Nancy (Gary) Robertson; 20 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial tributes may be made to Foundation Fighting Blindness or Karmanos Cancer Research.
